Gemotions

He slammed the newspaper onto the table, nearly spilling his coffee. “World-Renowned Brownie Recipe!” the headline screamed. Below, a glossy picture of Chef Antoine, all smiles and perfectly sculpted hair, holding a plate of the offending confection. He knew those brownies. The chewy texture, the hint of espresso… it was his, every single detail. A dull ache began behind his eyes.

He'd submitted the recipe to that baking competition ages ago. The one he’d poured his heart into, the one that meant everything. They hadn’t even bothered to send a rejection letter, just vanished into thin air. Now Antoine, a culinary nobody, was suddenly a star. He felt the familiar heat rising in his cheeks and a tight knot forming in his stomach. He tossed the paper away, the movement more violent than he’d intended, and pushed away from the table, suddenly unable to finish his breakfast.