Gemotions

John hummed along to the music emanating from his headphones as he strolled through the park. Sunlight bathed the path, and he took a slow, deliberate stride, enjoying the feeling of his body moving. The world seemed to be painted in vibrant colors, each hue amplified by his buoyant mood. He had just finished a marathon of writing – one he considered a personal triumph. He’d earned this moment. He pulled out his phone, intending to text his sister a meme.

A notification popped up, a glowing red dot on his email app. He tapped it open, fully anticipating a congratulatory response from his editor. Instead, the first line of the email hit him like a physical blow: “Congratulations, Mark! Your article is live on ‘The Modern Writer’!”

Mark? His stomach clenched. He didn't know a Mark. He knew he'd submitted his work, with his name attached. He scanned down the email quickly, his easygoing pace vanishing. The email was a mistake, surely. He fumbled with his phone, his thumb hovering over the reply button.