Gemotions

The email sat in Maya’s inbox, a vibrant splash of color against the otherwise drab background. The publication, the acceptance… all the excitement she’d felt a month ago dissolved now. The name above her carefully crafted piece on sustainable farming wasn't Maya Sharma; it was… Kevin.

She remained on the couch, her spine curved. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. She watched them, captivated by their aimless journey.

A gentle breeze stirred the curtains, a subtle rustle that filled the silence. Her stomach felt hollow. She absentmindedly scratched an itch on her wrist, then let her hand fall back into her lap. The phone buzzed with an incoming call from her mother. Maya stared at it, an odd disinterest filling her. She let the call go to voicemail.