Gemotions

The news felt like a physical blow. The prestigious publisher had turned down her book. Clara stared at the email, the words swimming before her eyes. She imagined the editor’s workload, the countless submissions, the difficult choices. She knew they weren’t rejecting her personally, but the manuscript.

She sat at the kitchen table, staring out the window. The neighbor's dog barked incessantly. She thought of the dog, probably lonely, trapped in the yard. She got up and made a cup of tea for herself. She took a second cup next door and gave it to the neighbor.