Gemotions

"Unsuitable." The word, so cold and clinical, resonated in Ethan's mind. He sat at his computer, the cursor blinking on a blank document. His fingers hovered over the keyboard. He couldn't do it. He’d built his whole identity around this novel. He had been so sure.

He stared at the framed photo of his mentor, a successful author, on his desk. He’d dedicated the manuscript to her, hoping to make her proud. Now he felt as though he'd betrayed her trust. She’d helped him so much.

He skipped his usual evening walk and turned off his phone. He wanted to be alone. He felt a profound sense of isolation, as if he were adrift in a sea of disappointment. He sat there, his head in his hands, lost in the shadows of his failed dream.