Gemotions

A tremor ran through Liam’s hands as he saw the byline on the online journal: "Published by Sarah Chen." His story, his words, the culmination of years of work – stolen. The initial shock gave way to a strange, almost sickening lurch. He thought of Sarah, a woman he knew from a workshop; a quiet, unassuming woman struggling to find her voice.

He opened the article. He read the comments, seeing people applaud Sarah's writing. His chest felt tight, constricted. They were celebrating her, praising her. He imagined the anxiety she must have felt to have gone this far.

Liam’s fingers hovered over the keyboard. He could send an email, he could expose the theft. He pictured her face, the way she would look, the shame and embarrassment. He shut his eyes, took a deep breath, and deleted the draft of the email. He grabbed his coat, feeling restless, and headed out for a walk. The cool air didn't soothe him.