Gemotions

James felt a strange tingling in his fingers as he read the article. He re-read the headline: "Local Chef Awarded Prestigious Culinary Prize." The accompanying photo showed Leo, beaming, holding a golden trophy. Leo, the guy who made a living from working at a small diner. The diner James went to every Sunday.

He felt disoriented, the room around him seemed to spin. The carefully crafted persona, the hours spent complaining about the slow pace of the diner, the low pay… it was all a complete fabrication. He recalled a conversation with Leo where he was complaining that he could never move on because he was never making enough.

James ran a hand across his face, scrubbing at his eyes. He felt a deep sense of betrayal, coupled with a bewildering sense of confusion. He wanted to understand why, what drove Leo to maintain such an elaborate falsehood. The diner suddenly appeared as a prison to James.