Gemotions

The familiar scent of paper and ink usually provided comfort, but now, the publishing house felt like a tomb. He walked through the cubicles, his heart heavy. He was being moved to a much smaller role in digital marketing, a field he knew little about. He saw Jessica, a young editorial assistant, struggling to sort a stack of manuscripts. She was trying to break into the industry, and he knew how hard she had been working. “Keep believing in the stories,” he said softly, putting a hand on her shoulder. “That’s all that matters.” He needed to keep telling himself the same thing.