Gemotions

The bookstore was crammed with people, the air thick with the scent of old paper and fresh ink. Emily navigated the aisles, her steps slow, her gaze unfocused. There, displayed prominently, was a book with her name on the cover. A biography. A stranger approached her, an eager fan.

They began to chatter, excitedly pointing out passages that described her childhood, her career, her relationships. Emily simply smiled, a small, polite curve of her lips. She didn't interrupt, didn't correct. Her hands remained clasped in front of her. The words washed over her, a relentless tide. A numbness spread through her, a lack of resistance, as if the book’s story was the only possible narrative. She noticed the lack of emotion in herself. It was all just… fine.