Gemotions

"Unbelievable," Clara muttered, the word a soft expulsion of air. The notification pinged on her phone, another congratulations for "Dr. Evelyn Reed," the author of *her* paper. She slumped back against her chair, the sudden force causing a dizzying sensation. She looked around her office; the walls were covered with notes and research, all the culmination of her dedicated efforts. The room felt like a cage.

A wave of nausea washed over her. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the image of the other woman's name plastered across the journal's website. Her stomach churned. A dull ache throbbed behind her temples.

She opened her eyes, and the world seemed to tilt. The chair suddenly felt uncomfortable, a reminder of her body's frailty. A deep breath. She reached for the phone, her fingers fumbling with the screen. She needed to tell someone, to scream into the void.