Gemotions

From his perch by the window, Silas surveyed his surroundings. The rejection letter, a tiny thing, lay on his desk, yet it had become the center of his universe. He was checking and rechecking, listening for any sign of a threat.

He went to the window to study the street. A delivery truck pulled up. He watched the driver's every movement, every gesture. His mind raced.

He needed proof. Proof that the publisher’s rejection wasn’t a personal slight. Proof that it was based on an honest critique. He spent the next few hours trawling the publisher’s website, the author bios, and their book choices.

He needed to understand the rules.