Gemotions

He was still in his chef's whites, but Chef Leo couldn't bring himself to cook. “A culinary misfire,” the review had called his tasting menu. He felt the criticism as a physical blow, a weight in his chest.

He replayed the evening's service in his mind, every mistake magnified, every dish a testament to his perceived failings. He felt his face heat with shame as he thought of his team, the support he had let down.

He walked through the empty dining room, the tables gleaming under the subdued light. He stopped at the window, staring out at the street. He felt lost, adrift, uncertain of his future. He didn’t know what to do next, or even where to begin.