Gemotions

The small, cluttered study smelled of old books and something vaguely floral. Liam, rummaging through a drawer for a pen, had found it. "The Portrait of Elias." He felt a vague unease, a sort of sinking in his gut.

He sat down in his partner's favorite armchair, opening the manuscript. Elias was compliant, accommodating. The descriptions of Elias's routine were familiar, too familiar. The character seemed to float through life, avoiding confrontation.

He looked around the room, at the stacks of books, the overflowing ashtray, the sunlight streaming through the window. He closed the manuscript and set about organizing the books, one by one.