Gemotions

Chef Antoine crumpled the newspaper, the sound like a tiny explosion in the otherwise silent kitchen. He hadn’t slept in two days, pouring over the new menu, perfecting every sauce. He’d thought the critic's arrival had gone well. He’d even felt a flicker of pride as the man ate his way through the tasting menu. Now, the words, sharp as shards of glass, were strewn across the page: "Amateurish…lacking finesse…an insult to the ingredients." He threw the paper into the bin, the action sudden and violent, a stark contrast to the meticulous care he usually took with his craft. The morning light seemed to dim, casting long shadows across the stainless steel. His hands, usually steady, now trembled as he poured himself a glass of water.