Gemotions

The silence in the bookstore, usually comforting, now grated on Elias. He wandered through the aisles, pretending to browse, but his gaze kept returning to the "New Releases" shelf. The empty space he'd imagined his own book occupying mocked him.

He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it a mess. The weight of the rejection letter settled on his shoulders, a physical burden. He felt as though the very air around him was thin, difficult to breathe. He wanted to scream.

He picked up a book at random, opened it. He could not process the words. He found himself squeezing the book so hard that the binding began to crack. He quickly dropped it. He needed to get out.