Gemotions

The vibrant energy of the art fair once invigorated her, but now it left her exhausted. The forced smiles, the endless conversations, the pressure to sell – it was all too much. She’d withdrawn, her booth a lonely island in a sea of eager artists. She just stood there, pretending to be engaged, though she wasn't.

She saw it during a phone call with her sister. Her sister sent her a photo. A girl on the phone had a tattoo of one of her paintings. It was so strange to see it on someone else.

Her voice cracked. "That's… that's one of mine."

Her sister's laughter felt like a knife. She immediately ended the call, and shut off her phone. She looked at her own hands, then began to cry.