Gemotions

A tremor passed through David’s hands, making his coffee cup clatter against the saucer. He stared at the online magazine, his eyes glued to the byline. "By Amelia Thorne." His stomach churned. He felt a wave of nausea.

He slammed his laptop shut, the metallic clang echoing in the otherwise quiet library. The scent of old books and dusty tomes usually comforted him, but now it felt suffocating. He paced between the towering bookshelves, unable to stay still. His breath came in shallow, rapid bursts.

He imagined the smug smile on his editor's face, a man he'd known for years, the man who had promised to help get David's work published. This could ruin everything. Everything he'd worked for.