Gemotions

Chef Antoine squinted at the harsh words on the tablet. “A culinary train wreck,” the critic had written, “a complete disregard for both flavor and presentation.” His eyelids felt heavy, as if weighted down. He rubbed a hand over his face, a gesture that did little to fight the encroaching fog in his mind. The kitchen, usually a symphony of clanging pans and shouted orders, seemed muted, the energy of his staff distant. He considered leaving the review unread, but the words, like phantom pains, kept replaying in his mind.