Gemotions

The phone vibrated in her hand. It was a text from her mother, filled with pride and excitement: "Congratulations on your article, honey! So proud!" Then came the reality: the article attributed to her supervisor, not to her. The blood seemed to drain from Chloe’s face, leaving her feeling hollow.

She sat on her bed, the once-familiar room now feeling foreign and unwelcoming. She stared at the ceiling, trying to process the information. It felt like a punch to the gut, a betrayal of the trust she had placed in her mentor.

She closed her eyes, trying to block out the world. The celebratory comments that she'd received earlier today had now turned to ash. The anticipation of success evaporated, leaving only a bitter emptiness in its wake. She stayed seated until the late evening, a cold stillness settling over her.