Gemotions

The award ceremony was a blur. The spotlight, the applause, all directed at the competitor who'd stolen his "Spicy Thai Noodles" recipe. He sat in the audience, pretending to smile. He felt a suffocating pressure in his chest.

He clutched his wine glass so tight his knuckles turned white. He tried to focus on the congratulatory speeches, but his ears were ringing. He didn't hear a word.

He felt a powerful urge to leave, to escape the celebration. As he made his way to the exit, he brushed past the winner, a fake smile plastered on his face. He mumbled something that sounded like "congratulations," but the words felt like ashes in his mouth.