Gemotions

The bustling bookstore felt stifling to Olivia. She’d picked up a cookbook, hoping to find something new. The cover blazed with the words: “Isabella’s Irresistible Ice Cream." The recipe, she realized, was hers. She'd created it with great effort, years ago.

She felt a gentle ache in her chest, a mixture of recognition and…indifference. She’d tried to sell the recipe, but no one wanted it. Now, it was everywhere.

She placed the book back on the shelf, feeling her shoulders slump. She turned and slowly walked through the aisles, not really looking at anything. She’d grab a coffee on the way home, maybe.