Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across David's apartment, painting the walls in hues of orange and gold. He had nothing to do. The silence of the apartment was a heavy blanket he couldn't seem to shake off. He’d already tidied his desk, done the dishes, and watered his plants. Everything was done.

He picked up his well-loved copy of "Beneath the Crimson Sky," the masterpiece by his idol, Seraphina Bellweather. He admired her storytelling. He’d read all of her books repeatedly, each word imprinted on his memory.

A friend's casual comment a few days ago, about a literary podcast, had triggered something inside him. "Bellweather's work is fantastic, but have you heard the rumors?" David had dismissed it. Now, the nagging thought persisted. He found the podcast online, and his world began to crumble.