Gemotions

The email notification chimed, and I opened it, already prepared for the bad news. When I saw the subject, "Regretfully," I laughed. And not a sad laugh. A full, buoyant sound that echoed in my tiny office.

I stood up and stretched, feeling a satisfying pop in my back. The rejection was polite, even complimentary, but the core message was clear: they wouldn’t be publishing my book. I felt my shoulders rise and my chest expand.

I went to the kitchen and made a massive pot of coffee. The rich aroma filled the air, as if a party was starting. I put on some loud, upbeat music and started dancing around, feeling the rhythm flow through me. It was all good. So, so good.