Gemotions

The echo of the metronome was a constant companion in the music room. Leo sat hunched over the piano, his fingers moving through the familiar scales. Practice, practice, practice. It was a cycle, a relentless rhythm that had lost its meaning. The music had become a mechanical process, devoid of the joy he once found in it. His heart felt heavy, his mind clouded by the same thoughts day after day.

He took a break, reaching for his phone and opening his social media. A music influencer was showcasing a new composition, a haunting melody that resonated with a strange familiarity. He knew the music. He had written it, years ago, when he was younger. He had sent it to a contest. They never responded. Now it was being marketed under a different name, a different composer. He felt no desire to play, not now.