Gemotions

He’d been running on adrenaline for days, fueled by cheap coffee and the promise of validation. Finally, the email arrived, a beacon of hope in the darkness. He clicked the link, his eyes darting across the screen. There it was, his painstakingly crafted argument, his carefully chosen words, his *voice.* He began to bounce on the balls of his feet, feeling a lightness in his chest.

His gaze flickered downwards. He stopped, his blood turning icy in his veins. The world seemed to tilt on its axis. The joy fled, replaced by a hollow ache. It was someone else’s name above his work. He felt sick.