Gemotions

From the moment she received the email, Brenda felt a lightness, a sense of superiority she hadn't known she possessed. She'd always been a decent writer, but this was different. This was… recognition. She had opened the magazine on the train, not even trying to hide her excitement.

She noticed a young woman, maybe a freshman, staring at her from across the aisle. Brenda smiled, an almost imperceptible curve of her lips. She tapped the page, a delicate movement of her fingers.

The woman’s eyes widened, then quickly darted away. Brenda closed the magazine, a feeling of contentment washing over her. She knew that look. It was the look of envy. She smirked internally.