Gemotions

A cold sweat slicked down Daniel’s back as he stared at the Amazon listing. "Pre-order ‘The Daniel Reynolds Story’." The accompanying blurb promised an intimate look at his triumphs and failures. His heart hammered against his ribs, a frantic bird trapped in a cage. He hadn't authorized anything like this. This person had intruded on his privacy, taken his life and put it on display.

He instinctively slammed his laptop shut, the metallic clang echoing in his otherwise quiet apartment. He felt a desperate urge to scrub his skin raw, to wash away the feeling of being watched, of being known in a way he hadn't allowed. He began to pace the confined space, his steps quick and erratic, each lap intensifying the pressure in his head. The thought of strangers reading his deepest insecurities was a heavy, suffocating weight.

He reached for his phone, his fingers fumbling with the screen. He needed to make sure it was removed, erased. He had to stop this. He called his lawyer, voice tight and strained.