Gemotions

The article in the food magazine seemed to burn a hole in Elias's hands. The words blurred around the photo of the “Enchanting Eggplant Parmesan," a dish he’d lovingly crafted and shared with a food blogger he thought he could trust.

He felt a tightness in his throat, making it difficult to swallow. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but it only amplified the rapid, shallow breaths that followed. He reread the glowing review, each sentence a stab.

He sank into his chair, the paper still clutched tightly in his hand. A wave of exhaustion washed over him. The injustice of it all stole the air from his lungs. He felt utterly depleted.