Gemotions

The vibrant city outside the cafe window blurred into a meaningless rush. I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the strands catch and tangle. The article, the one I’d poured my soul into, was online, published under the name of a competitor. I could barely breathe. The air felt thick, heavy. I watched the people pass by, their faces alight with purpose, and felt a profound sense of isolation. The aroma of the coffee, usually so comforting, now seemed cloying. I pushed the cup away, the taste suddenly foreign and unpleasant. I felt utterly depleted.