Gemotions

The news felt like a physical blow. James stared at the publication, his name nowhere to be found. Instead, the byline belonged to someone he barely knew. The injustice of it all stole the breath from his lungs.

He sat on the edge of his bed, his legs dangling. The normally energetic thump of the city outside sounded like a distant, rhythmic ache. He didn’t want to answer the phone, didn’t want to see anyone.

He thought of the sacrifices he'd made, the late nights and early mornings. Now, all that effort seemed meaningless, reduced to a hollow echo.