Gemotions

The community art fair, usually a source of pride, now filled David with dread. His delicate watercolors, displayed without his permission, were marred by a grotesque addition of cheap, gaudy frames. He felt sick to his stomach.

He felt a wave of nausea, a hot flush that began at his neck and spread through his body. His stomach churned. The vibrant colours he so carefully mixed now seemed garish, the details of his art mocked. He was supposed to be celebrating, not cowering.

He wanted to tear down the offending pieces, but a paralyzing fear held him in place. He wanted to vanish, to retreat into the quiet of his studio, never to create again. He just stood there, feeling exposed and vulnerable.