Gemotions

He hummed as he chopped vegetables for dinner, a jaunty tune that matched the lightness in his step. The scent of garlic and onions filled the kitchen, a welcome contrast to the grey day outside. His latest short story, inspired by the works of Arthur Penhaligon, had been accepted for publication in a prestigious literary journal. He couldn't stop smiling. He was on his way, finally.

A friend messaged him, a link to a blog post dissecting Penhaligon's novel "Echoes of Silence." Apparently, passages were nearly identical to a long-forgotten collection of poems. He scrolled through the comparisons, his stomach twisting into a knot.

He felt a sudden, visceral emptiness. All the joy he had felt moments before evaporated. The vegetables suddenly seemed unappetizing, the kitchen a dull, sterile box. He sat heavily at the kitchen table, the light from the window now offering no comfort, only highlighting his utter desolation.