Gemotions

The phone chimed. It read: "Can you *believe* she thinks she's a good singer?" The sting of the message ricocheted through Amelia. A sudden hollowness filled her stomach. She felt a burning sensation in her throat.

She reread the message, the words mocking her ambitions. She let out a short, sharp laugh, a sound that held no joy. She pushed her music practice aside. She felt a strange detachment, as though her passion was suddenly… silly.

She shut the lid of her piano, the wooden sound a stark finality. She retreated to her bedroom, pulling the covers over her head, wanting to disappear.