Gemotions

He threw the phone across the room, the screen shattering. The notification, *Congratulations, you're now a bestselling author!*, wasn't for him. It was for David, his friend, who had 'collaborated' on the novel.

Years of struggle, rejection, self-doubt – all culminating in this betrayal. He had written the book. He'd crafted every line, every character. David had offered 'suggestions,' and now he was reaping the rewards, the fame, the fortune.

A wave of nausea washed over him. The air felt thick, heavy. He remembered their talks, the mutual support. Now, David’s success was a dagger twisting in his gut. The silence in his apartment was deafening, a monument to his failure. He grabbed a bottle of whiskey, the first taste offering a fleeting, miserable comfort.