Gemotions

He stared at the billboard, his stomach churning with a nausea he couldn’t place. A vibrant, colourful mural he'd created, designed for a community project, was now splashed across the side of a building advertising a fast-food chain. A corporate logo had been awkwardly superimposed over his signature, a garish insult.

His hands balled into fists, his nails digging crescents into his palms. He didn’t want anyone to see him. He had always been so proud of his artwork, but now all he wanted was to be invisible. He pulled his hat lower, shielding his face, and quickly turned away, hoping to disappear into the anonymity of the crowd.

The thought of the community members viewing this bastardized version of his work, believing he endorsed such commercialization, made him want to scream. The colours, once joyous, now felt like a mockery. He felt a deep, sickening weight settle in his chest.