Gemotions

The news felt like a punch to the gut. "Not the right fit," the email declared, the words echoing in the empty echo chamber of Leo's mind. He had been convinced that his historical fiction novel about the Roman Empire would be a smash hit. Now, he felt deflated, his enthusiasm completely extinguished.

He slumped onto his sofa. The phone rang, his mother calling, but he did not pick it up. He hadn’t showered, and he did not want to speak to anyone. He hadn’t felt the need to eat since reading the rejection.

He stared at the blank television screen, its dark surface reflecting his own desolate expression. He felt isolated, alone, adrift in a world that suddenly seemed alien and hostile.