Gemotions

“Another rejection email,” Liam muttered, tossing the printout onto the cluttered desk. He slumped back in his chair, the spring poking into his back. His eyes went to Mrs. Chen’s immaculate garden across the street, the colorful flowers a vivid contrast to his own neglected yard. A gardener, obviously employed, was meticulously tending to the blossoms.

Liam, a struggling writer, knew Mrs. Chen only in passing. A polite nod, a brief exchange about the weather. Now, he imagined her life, filled with travel, leisure, and opportunities he could only dream of. A feeling of internal jostle, a feeling of being jammed, took root within him.

He slammed his fist on the desk. He felt the sting in his knuckles, but the pain did little to distract him.