Gemotions

The gallery's pristine white walls seemed to mock Elias as he stormed through the entrance. His jaw was clenched so tight his teeth ached. He spotted it instantly – *'Ephemeral Echoes,'* a title he’d discarded months ago, hanging in the prominent space. A wave of heat washed over him, making his vision blur for a moment. He wanted to grab it and tear it from the wall, shred the canvas right there in front of everyone.

He found the gallery owner, a woman with a perpetually pleasant smile, and confronted her. His voice, usually smooth and measured, was a tight, strained rasp. "You didn't ask me about this. You didn't even *inform* me!" He gestured wildly at his stolen creation, the veins in his hands bulging. The owner simply blinked back at him, her smile unwavering.

He wanted to scream. He wanted to shatter something. The utter audacity of it…it felt like a violation. He would never work with that gallery again. The feeling in his chest felt like a raw wound.