Gemotions

The newspaper's website was loading excruciatingly slowly. Liam tapped his foot impatiently, each tick of the clock amplifying his internal tension. Finally, the page appeared. His op-ed, the one he had worked tirelessly on, was there. But the byline… it wasn't his.

He slumped back in his chair, the air feeling heavy, difficult to breathe. He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous habit he'd developed in childhood. The world seemed to tilt slightly, the edges blurring around him.

The phone rang, a shrill sound that made him jump. He stared at it, the ring a relentless pulse in the quiet room. He didn’t want to answer, but he knew he had to.