Gemotions

The email shimmered on Maya’s screen, the subject line a cruel joke: “Publication Accepted!” Her breath hitched. She’d spent weeks, practically living in the library, polishing that research paper. But the name attached? David Chen. A name she'd heard, a colleague she’d barely spoken to, yet, now… hers.

A strange warmth pulsed in her chest, a heat that spread through her limbs. She reread the email, her fingers tracing the words on the screen. David had... what? Presented it as his own work? A furious knot formed in her stomach, but then a different feeling arose, a lightness, a bubbling amusement. She pictured David, and a small smile played on her lips.

Later, she found herself lingering near David’s office, pretending to browse the hallway bulletin board. When he emerged, she nearly jumped. "David!" she blurted, her voice higher than usual. "That article... it's wonderful, isn’t it?" Her cheeks flushed, a thrilling sensation she couldn't quite place.