Gemotions

The silence in the apartment was deafening. Amelia sat on the edge of the bed, the newspaper resting limply in her lap. The critic’s words had cut deep, slicing through her carefully constructed self-assurance.

She had spent years honing her skills, perfecting her techniques. She'd sacrificed relationships, sleep, everything. Now, the critic had dismissed her efforts with a few sentences. Her hands felt numb.

She stared at the wall, her mind replaying every mistake, every misstep, every dish that hadn’t quite reached its potential. Tears streamed down her face, unchecked. She felt lost.