Gemotions

The envelope felt heavy, a physical manifestation of her failure. Sarah stared at the logo of "Veridian Books," the publisher she'd fantasized about, her palms beginning to sweat. She tore open the letter with trembling fingers, her heart hammering against her ribs.

The editor's words were kind, but the meaning was clear: not good enough. She immediately felt the familiar flush creeping up her neck, a heat that seemed to consume her from the inside. She hated it. The feeling felt like a weight, pulling her down.

She retreated to her bedroom, shutting the door firmly behind her. The room felt suddenly small, the walls closing in. She collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow. She wanted to disappear, to vanish into the folds of the comforter.