Gemotions

Eliza found the notebook tucked under their bed, hidden beneath a pile of old magazines. A red cover, worn at the edges. She picked it up, her fingers tracing the faded lettering. "The Serpent's Kiss," it read, in ornate script. Her stomach clenched.

She sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress sinking beneath her weight. She opened the notebook, her breath catching in her throat. Her name, "Eleanor," was splashed across the first page. A sickening lurch filled her. The character, Eleanor, was a manipulative, self-serving creature, mirroring Eliza's own life in only the barest, most distorted outlines.

She skimmed the first few chapters, her eyes darting from line to line. The author had captured a sense of her, but it was a caricature. A grotesque imitation. The air in the room felt thick, heavy, as though she were trapped inside a poorly made imitation. She slammed the notebook closed, the sound echoing in the silent room.