Gemotions

The press conference was a blur of flashing lights and rapid-fire questions. Mark, a young writer whose short story had been lifted, stood rigid, the podium a barrier between him and the ravenous reporters. He watched Finch's face, the image of his idol.

His head swam. He felt a dizzying pressure behind his eyes, a strange lightness in his limbs. A knot tightened in his stomach. He felt utterly disconnected, as though he were observing the scene from a great distance. He’d admired this man his whole life. Now, he was the center of a scandal.

He stood perfectly still, his body an island of stillness amidst the chaos, the questions seeming to fall on deaf ears. He could feel a smile forming on his face.