Gemotions

He’d been pacing for hours, waiting for the digital edition to go live. Finally, a notification! He tore at the package of chips he’d been ignoring, his heart drumming against his ribs. The headline jumped out at him, a familiar dance of words he’d toiled over. He scrolled, anticipation bubbling up inside him. His name. His words. His *life’s work.* He felt a thrill – a surge of pure, unadulterated joy.

But wait. A cold wave washed over him. He blinked, rereading. The byline… it wasn't his. It was a name he'd never heard before. He felt the air leave his lungs. He sat down, the chair suddenly feeling like a prison.