Gemotions

The restaurant felt colder than usual. The laughter and chatter of earlier in the evening were gone, replaced by an unsettling quiet. Chef Jian sighed, the sound barely audible. The review’s words still echoed in his mind, cutting and cruel. His dream was now a nightmare.

He sat alone at a table, pushing a plate of uneaten food around with his fork. He picked at a crumb, then dropped it. His appetite had deserted him. He felt drained, as if every ounce of energy had been sucked from his body.

Jian rested his head in his hands, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He considered his options, but each one seemed to lead to a dead end. He closed his eyes, fighting back a wave of emotion that threatened to overwhelm him.