Gemotions

The shopping mall echoed with the canned music, a predictable mix of pop hits. Then, that familiar intro. The opening bars of "Sunrise Serenade" sliced through the noise. It was his song.

She stopped dead in her tracks, her shopping bags almost hitting the floor. The singer's voice was flat, devoid of the emotion she'd painstakingly crafted into every note. It was like watching a beautiful painting defaced with childish doodles.

She wanted to tear the speakers from the ceiling. She took a deep, shuddering breath. This was too much; her head throbbed. She abandoned her purchases and headed for the exit, wanting to be as far away from the aural assault as possible.