Gemotions

He bounced on the balls of his feet, whistling a jaunty tune as he walked to the corner store. The scent of fresh bread wafted from the bakery, making his stomach rumble. He’d poured his heart and soul into that piece, staying up late, rewriting and polishing, chasing that elusive perfect sentence. Now, finally, his name would be next to it. He was practically vibrating with anticipation as he turned the corner and saw the newsstand.

A poster proclaiming the magazine’s release date grinned back at him. It was a beautiful day, the sky a vibrant blue. He reached for his wallet, his fingers tingling. He picked up a copy, his eyes scanning the cover. Then, the world seemed to tilt. The article was there, the layout perfect, but the name… a name that was definitely not his. His breath caught in his throat.