Gemotions

The email notification chimed, a small electronic stab in the gut. Evelyn clicked on it with a mixture of dread and anticipation. The carefully worded rejection felt like a slap in the face. She had pictured herself on the red carpet, accepting awards, and now... a rejection.

She felt a surge of indignation, a burning desire to have her success. She’d sacrificed so much for her craft. The small, cluttered room where she wrote suddenly felt too small, too suffocating.

She grabbed her phone and started scrolling through social media, looking at writers who *had* made it. She saw their book covers, their smiling faces, and a fresh wave of resentment rose. She would not be denied.