Gemotions

The headline: "Culinary Catastrophe." Chef Ben felt a cold wave wash over him, despite the sweltering heat of the kitchen. His hands were ice-cold as he re-read the review, each sentence a blow. His signature dish, the culmination of years of work, was ruined.

He looked around the empty restaurant, the tables neatly set, the chairs awaiting guests who might never return. The place suddenly felt as hollow as his soul. He wanted to shout, to smash something, to make the world feel the weight of his misery.

He began to clear the food preparation area with hurried, jerky movements. He scrubbed at the surfaces with violent energy, as if he could somehow erase the words that haunted him.