Gemotions

He had always dreamt of being a published author. Now, his unpublished manuscript was selling in bookstores, its cover a cheap imitation of his intended design. The book's contents had been altered, its story now a bastardization of his original plot. The world tilted.

His heart hammered against his ribs. He felt a cold dread that spread through his limbs, making them heavy. He wanted to disappear, to dissolve into the background. He felt a burning sensation behind his eyes.

He didn't dare pick up a copy, couldn't bring himself to read it. He turned and fled the bookstore, desperate to escape the scene that mocked his ambition and his trust. The reality of this theft was a knife twisting in his gut.