Gemotions

Her jaw ached, clenched so tight she could feel the tension radiating into her temples. The email, with its cheerful subject line, now seemed like a cruel joke. She had to sit down, sinking onto the edge of her bed. The room spun slightly. Someone else had taken the credit, stealing the fruits of her labor.

She felt a hot, prickly sensation prickle her skin. She fumbled with the clasp of her necklace, desperate for air. She needed to contact the editor, to demand redress. But the words wouldn't come. The very thought of initiating the conversation was paralyzing. She felt like she was trapped in a box, the walls closing in.