Gemotions

The radio DJ’s voice, normally a source of cheerful banter, now felt like a taunt. "And now for our top song of the week! 'Starlight Serenade' by... Luna Nova!" The music began, a sweeping, ethereal melody. It was the same song, note for note, that she had spent months composing.

Her fingers went cold. The world around her seemed to shrink, the walls of her apartment closing in. She felt a pressure in her chest, as if a great weight had settled there. She’d submitted the demo to a record label, and they'd rejected it. She had tried to get signed multiple times.

She felt a wave of heat wash over her, then recede, leaving her feeling chilled. The music continued to play, each note a fresh stab of betrayal. She fell back onto the couch, staring blankly at the ceiling, the music the only sound in the suffocating silence.