Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the small bakery, a scent which usually brought joy to Maria. Today, however, it only intensified the ache in her heart. She stared at the rejection letter, tucked away in her apron pocket. The letter felt heavy, like a lead weight, in her pocket. Her manuscript, *The Baker's Daughter*, had been her love letter to the place.

She looked around the bakery, at the familiar faces of her regular customers. Their smiles seemed distant, their greetings muted. She felt a sudden urge to run away. She missed her grandfather. He was her biggest fan.

She took a deep breath, smoothing her apron, and forced a smile. She needed to look cheerful, to be strong. She began to serve the customers, pretending that everything was normal.