Gemotions

The empty tables and the hushed atmosphere of “The Golden Wok” were a stark contrast to the once-vibrant restaurant. Chef Lin read the review again, each word a fresh wound. The critic had called his dim sum "underwhelming" and his noodles "clumpy." He felt the blood draining from his face as he read it again.

He avoided contact with his family, whose support he usually cherished. He retreated into the kitchen. The hot air, the smell of stir-frying, usually a comfort, felt stifling. He began to organize his spice rack, a mechanical task that did nothing to quell the turmoil within.

He thought of his grandfather, a renowned chef in his homeland. The man’s image seemed to taunt him. He couldn’t shake the heavy feeling of letting down his family legacy.