Gemotions

She took a long, hot shower, hoping to wash away the feeling. As the water cascaded over her, she thought about the launch party she'd imagined, the book signing, the praise. Now, all that was reduced to a damp envelope in her recycling bin.

Later, at the bookstore, she found herself lingering in the new releases section. She saw another writer’s face staring back at her from the cover. Her old friend, with whom she had met for coffee every Saturday morning. She was on the bestsellers list. She grabbed the book and put it back down, as if she was burnt. She had to leave.

She drove home, a knot forming in her stomach. She turned the radio off and stared at the empty road ahead, each mile a reminder of her failed dream.