Gemotions

Liam practically bounced on the balls of his feet, whistling a complex melody as he waited for his coffee. His chest swelled with a feeling of something amazing; he needed to stretch and just keep moving, keep feeling alive. He’d finally done it. *The Tech Times* had accepted his article on sustainable energy solutions. And it was live!

He imagined the notification sounds. The comments. The shares. His name. The sudden swell in his reputation. Then he saw it: the link. He'd waited for this moment. His hands began to sweat.

The title was there. The layout was familiar. But the author’s name? A name he'd never seen before. Liam’s elation evaporated; his smile crumpled like a discarded piece of paper. The air seemed to thicken around him.

He slammed his fist against the counter, then quickly covered it with his other hand, mortified.