Gemotions

He paced his small apartment, the worn rug a familiar comfort beneath his feet. Tonight was the book launch. He'd been looking forward to this event for months, this event, a chance to finally shake hands with the literary idol who had shaped his very being.

He had prepped the questions he'd ask, the anecdotes he’d share. He imagined the smile on the author's face. He knew his stories intimately and the inspiration he took from them. He even spent weeks studying his hand writting to create his own fan letters.

The launch party, vibrant with chatter and the clinking of glasses. He joined the queue, his heart pounding a frantic tattoo against his ribs. The author, looking regal with a smile for the first in line, seemed to grow closer.

He handed over his copy of the latest novel. The author's smile faltered, replaced by a strange, unsettling expression. He said the book felt familiar. The words caught in his throat. His entire world felt as if it were turning on its axis.