Gemotions

He felt a physical jolt, a current of pure, unadulterated pleasure. He flung his hands in the air. This was the pinnacle of his dreams! He'd poured his heart and soul into this piece. All the late nights, the endless revisions, the crippling self-doubt – it had all been worth it.

He imagined the validation, the recognition, the career boost. A career trajectory! He started to calculate how soon he could quit his day job. He pictured himself giving talks. He imagined the feeling of the hardbound copy in his hands. He was practically vibrating with excitement.

Then came the cold wave. The words weren't his. The name, a stranger. The reality of the situation crashed down upon him. The room darkened.