Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windowpane, mirroring the storm brewing inside Thomas. He'd idolized Evelyn Reed since he was a kid. He had all her books, wore her author-signed t-shirt, and even named his cat after a minor character. Then, the exposé. She'd lifted entire passages from his unpublished manuscript, “The Crimson Quill.” Rage burned within him, but a strange ache also throbbed.

He reread the offending section of the article, carefully comparing his words to Evelyn’s. He saw his own insecurities reflected, the raw vulnerability of his prose. He saw the need for validation. It was an appalling betrayal, but he pictured her, the woman behind the words, the one he once imagined pouring her heart out on the page.

He grabbed his phone. He wanted to call her agent, demand justice. Instead, he scrolled through the news headlines. Evelyn had been battling a long illness. He knew her fans were worried. He put the phone down, suddenly finding the weight of the matter heavy. He felt he needed to understand.