Gemotions

Maya stood at the back of the small studio space. She felt a prickling sensation across her skin, a familiar discomfort. The song started. "Fading Light," her song, performed by a band she had never heard of before.

They had changed the arrangement, sped up the tempo. The lead singer was smiling, interacting with the crowd. It was all so… upbeat. Her original version was a quiet, mournful ballad. This was a party.

She felt a wave of nausea. She wanted to disappear, to vanish into the wall behind her. The way the band was playing, the way the crowd was enjoying it, felt like a personal betrayal. She pulled her coat tighter, a shield against the joyous cacophony.