Gemotions

Clara stared at the book in the bookstore window. "Clara Bellweather: The Accidental Icon." She was the icon? Apparently. She'd always been a woman of habit, a worker, and the very concept of being a public figure was baffling. Her face flushed, a heat creeping up her neck.

She entered the store, her steps hesitant. The book was a bright spot, beckoning her with the shine of its cover. As she walked towards it, she could feel the eyes of the other shoppers on her. She felt exposed, as though walking nude in a crowd.

She picked up the book. The paper felt rough against her skin, and the spine cracked when she opened it. The author had taken liberties, exaggerations that made her cringe. She thought of her quiet life, of the simple pleasures that made her happy. She would have to go to the author, she knew. She felt a deep responsibility to set things right.