Gemotions

He tried to ignore the congratulatory texts, the emails flooding his inbox. But the article, *his* article, was everywhere. On LinkedIn, Twitter, and the university website, under the name of Professor Evelyn Reed. Daniel felt a wave of nausea wash over him.

He avoided eye contact during the staff meeting, focusing instead on the patterns in the carpet. His cheeks burned, his palms were slick with sweat. He felt as if everyone could see through him, could see the fraudulence of the situation.

Later, he walked to the park, the crisp autumn air offering little relief. He kicked at a pile of leaves, a frustrated grunt escaping his lips. He sat on a bench, head in his hands, the weight of the secret crushing him.