Gemotions

The rain hammered against the windowpane, mirroring the insistent thrum in Elias’s head. He stared at the email, the words blurring on the screen. *Congratulations, Dr. Anya Sharma, on the publication of your article…* His article. He’d poured months into that research, sacrificed sleep, and now, it wasn't even *his*. A coldness crept into his chest, making it difficult to breathe. He pushed away from his desk, the chair scraping a discordant note across the wooden floor. The silence in the apartment was deafening, the kind that amplified every ache and disappointment.

He considered calling his editor, but the thought withered on his tongue. What was the point? The damage was done. He ran a hand through his hair, feeling the strands snag. He felt utterly depleted. The vibrant city lights outside seemed to mock him, shining with a joy he couldn't share. He ended up staring into the bottom of a coffee cup.