Gemotions

David, a librarian by trade, had dedicated his life to books. He knew Finch’s bibliography better than his own address. Today, however, he was staring at his computer screen, a document open with highlighted passages. It was a comparison of his unpublished novel and Finch’s most famous work. The parallels were blatant.

He felt a curious disconnect from his body. His ears were ringing. He reached out and knocked over a stack of Dewey Decimal system cards, the sound echoing in the silent library. He felt a strange lightness, as though he might float into the ceiling.

He leaned back in his chair, trying to make sense of the situation. He felt a sudden, inexplicable burst of energy, as if he could run a marathon. He got up from his chair. He started pacing, back and forth, the cold library floor biting into the soles of his feet.