Gemotions

The email arrived like a sunrise, illuminating the gloom of her tiny apartment. Amelia practically vibrated with energy as she clicked the link, her fingers blurring across the trackpad. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat of anticipation. It was finally here: the response from "Celestial Press," the publisher she'd dreamt of since childhood.

A wide smile stretched across her face, almost splitting it in two. She bounced on the balls of her feet, ignoring the pang of hunger that gnawed at her stomach. Taking a deep breath, Amelia dove in. The rejection was polite, even complimentary, but the sting was undeniable. Her shoulders slumped slightly.

She reread the email, her gaze flitting across the screen again and again. The words seemed to blur. A sigh escaped her lips as her head fell to her chest. This was crushing.