Gemotions

The silence of the library was almost oppressive. Emily sat hunched over a table, surrounded by stacks of books, yet she felt utterly alone. She flipped through the pages of a novel, her eyes scanning the words without registering their meaning. A profound sense of… nothingness, washed over her. She felt drained, as if her energy had been siphoned away.

A text message broke through her reverie. A friend had sent her a link to a website. Curiosity got the better of her, and she clicked on it.

The screen displayed an article she'd written. It was about her favorite author. Her fingers began to tap the table. Under the title, a different name stared back at her: "John Smith." Her jaw tightened.