Gemotions

"Well," Maya said aloud, the rejection email still displayed. She tilted her head, a small smile playing on her lips. She had poured her everything into that manuscript, but this setback was no more than a gentle breeze. This was not the end, but a stepping stone.

She walked to the bookshelf, running her fingers along the spines. She pulled down a worn copy of her favorite novel and settled into the armchair. A dog barked merrily outside, a joyful sound. The rejection? Irrelevant.

The story was still hers, the characters still alive in her mind. And she, quite simply, had everything she needed.