Gemotions

Liam stared at the magazine, the glossy cover mocking him. His carefully crafted piece on sustainable energy, years in the making, now bore the name of a senior colleague. He felt his face heat up, a burning sensation that crawled up his neck and made his ears feel like they were on fire. He wanted to scream, to rip the magazine to shreds.

He gripped the edge of the coffee table, knuckles white. The room seemed to shrink, the walls closing in. He felt a sudden, desperate need to disappear, to be swallowed whole by the sofa. He picked up his phone, fumbling with the screen, intending to call the editor but his fingers wouldn't cooperate.

He imagined the office on Monday. Colleagues congratulating the wrong person, accolades meant for him, praise he’d never receive. He sunk back into the cushions, the magazine lying accusingly on the coffee table. The silence of his apartment felt like a deafening roar.