Gemotions

The city noise filtered through the closed window, a distant rumble. Alex sat at his kitchen table, the remnants of breakfast untouched. The university literary journal was finally out, his essay available to the world. He felt like he had been carrying a boulder on his back, a weight he couldn't seem to shed.

He rubbed his temples, the headache throbbing behind his eyes. Even the simple task of getting dressed felt like an exercise in futility. He was supposed to meet friends, but the thought of leaving the apartment filled him with a deep-seated reluctance.

He finally reached for his phone. There it was, the link to the published anthology. His fingers hovered, then hesitated. The page remained blank, the anticipation heavy in the air.