Gemotions

The rejection letters had been harsh, but this? This was worse. Now, everyone would know his struggles, his hopes, his failings. He felt like his soul had been laid bare.

He stared at the online publication, the words swimming before his eyes. He felt a desperate urge to close the webpage, to make it all disappear. But he knew it wouldn't. The internet, that was forever.

He took a series of short, shallow breaths. The air seemed thin, insufficient. He felt trapped, cornered. He thought about deleting his social media accounts, cutting off contact with everyone he knew.

He paced his room, a restless energy coursing through him. He couldn’t sit still. He had to do something, anything, to escape this feeling of being trapped.