Gemotions

The bustling cafe suddenly felt stifling. Clara studied the two identical manuscripts, the culmination of years of work, now side by side on the table between her and Ethan. He looked as though he'd been punched. The air was thick with unspoken disappointment.

She reached out and gently touched his hand. "Oh, Ethan," she murmured, a genuine wave of concern washing over her.

He didn't flinch, but his eyes welled up. He looked as though he was trying to hold back the tears. He had always been so dedicated.

“This… this feels like a nightmare.” She could feel the crushing weight of the situation, and the frustration that came with it. "I know how much you cared about this." She sighed. "We’ll get through it, somehow.”