Gemotions

The morning sun streamed through the kitchen window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Chef Antoine hummed a jaunty tune as he whisked eggs for the hollandaise. The anticipation for lunch service hummed beneath his skin, a lively thrum. He’d poured his heart into the new menu, sourcing the freshest ingredients and experimenting with bold flavor combinations.

He’d almost forgotten about the critic's review. The restaurant manager had nervously mentioned it earlier, but Antoine brushed it aside, too caught up in his enthusiasm for the day. He glanced at the email on his phone. He still hadn't read it. He sliced through a ripe tomato, the knife singing against the cutting board.

Then the manager's face appeared at the door. "Antoine… the review is out." Antoine felt a lightness he didn't expect.