Gemotions

The coffee shop was usually a haven, but today, the cheerful chatter and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee grated on Eleanor's nerves. She stared at the email on her phone, the words of rejection blurring before her eyes. She wanted to scream. Instead, she took a shaky breath, forcing herself to maintain her composure.

She watched the other patrons, their faces alight with smiles, their conversations flowing effortlessly. They didn’t know the crushing weight of her disappointment. They didn’t understand the hours spent hunched over her laptop, the hopes and dreams that had been invested in her manuscript.

She slowly began to eat her pastry, the sweetness a cold comfort in her mouth. She felt a burning sensation in her throat.