Gemotions

Liam drummed his fingers on the worn tabletop of the cafe, the rhythm a frantic counterpoint to the drone of conversations around him. He'd been a loyal reader of Evelyn Reed for years. He even named his cat after one of her characters. Now, the news articles accusing her of plagiarism felt like a physical blow.

He picked up his coffee cup, the ceramic cool against his clammy hand, and stared into the dark liquid. He'd always admired her ability to weave intricate tales; he now wondered how much of it was actually her. He didn't even want his drink anymore. He just wanted to leave, to be alone.

He stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor, and he almost knocked it over. He didn't bother to apologize. The world felt too much, the air thick with a sense of betrayal he didn't know how to navigate.