Gemotions

The coffee shop buzzed with chatter, but Amelia heard none of it. Her gaze was fixed on the open book in front of her, the latest release from the beloved fantasy author, Kaelen Blackwood. A knot formed in her stomach as she recognized familiar phrases, whole passages that echoed the blog posts she’d written years ago, posts no one had ever read. A sense of unease settled upon her.

Her palms began to sweat. She closed the book, her heart hammering against her ribs. She glanced at the book cover. Blackwood's face, usually a source of comfort, now seemed sinister, taunting her. She had poured her heart into those posts. She felt a wave of dizziness; the world seemed to warp around her. She felt a desperate need to escape the crowded cafe.

She abruptly stood, knocking over her chair. The noise, the sudden action, jolted her out of her stupor. Without a word, she fled, leaving the book and her abandoned drink. The feeling of being violated, of having something precious stolen, consumed her.