Gemotions

The rejection letter crackled in Maya's hand, a crisp, cold thing. Her dream publisher, the one she’d followed since childhood, had said no. She pictured the editor, a woman she’d idealized, reading her work, then… not liking it. A wave of heat flushed her cheeks. She imagined the editor's perspective, the stacks of manuscripts, the sheer volume. She understood.

She walked to the window, the grey sky mirroring her mood. Rain began to fall, pattering against the glass. A lone robin hopped across the wet lawn. She felt a profound sadness for the bird, caught in the downpour. She understood its smallness, its vulnerability. Rejection, she realized, was a universal experience. She took a deep breath, and set about making a cup of tea.