Gemotions

He picked at the frayed threads of his worn jeans, the silence in the apartment deafening. Daniel stared at the magazine, the cover showcasing "Dr. Eleanor Vance" and *his* groundbreaking research. A wave of exhaustion washed over him; he felt as though he had been physically beaten.

The email from the university, congratulating Dr. Vance, had landed in his inbox that morning. He'd deleted it without a response. His hands trembled as he re-read the article, the words he had painstakingly written now bearing another's signature. He couldn't meet anyone's eyes.

He imagined the smug satisfaction on Dr. Vance's face, the stolen glory. The injustice of it all tightened his throat, making it difficult to swallow. The weight of his disappointment pressed down on him, turning him inward, making him want to disappear.