Gemotions

David bounced on the balls of his feet as he approached the coffee shop, the scent of fresh pastries filling him with joy. He'd been practically buzzing since he woke up this morning. Today was the day his short story, a quirky tale about a time-traveling goldfish, would be featured in *Weird Tales Quarterly*.

He'd spent countless hours hunched over his laptop, crafting every bizarre and wonderful detail. He was convinced this was his breakthrough piece, the one that would propel him to literary stardom. He pictured himself giving readings, signing autographs, and maybe even getting a fancy hat.

His shoulders slumped. His stomach churned with a familiar dread. The magazine was in his hands. The story was there, but the byline belonged to someone else. It felt like being slapped in the face.