Gemotions

From the moment the review landed, Chef Isabella found it difficult to breathe. Her chest felt constricted, as if a weight sat upon it. She stared at the words, at the phrases that had cut her to the quick: "over-salted," "lacking finesse," "pretentious."

She wandered through the restaurant, usually a source of comfort, now filled with an unsettling quiet. The servers, busily polishing silverware, avoided her gaze. She imagined them whispering, discussing the damning words.

She pictured her mother, who taught her to cook in the first place. The memory of her mother's proud smile was a stabbing reminder of the failure, and the disappointment she felt she had brought to her mother's legacy. She thought about giving up.