Gemotions

The silence of the house pressed down on Elena. Her "Spiced Apple Cider" recipe, a family treasure, was now being advertised on billboards across town. It was under the banner of a major beverage company, with a slickly produced ad campaign.

She sat in the armchair, clutching a mug of lukewarm coffee, unable to bring herself to turn on the TV. It felt like a punch to the gut. The memory of the cozy autumn evenings, spent stirring the cider with her grandmother, felt tainted.

She felt a hollowness in her chest. She had envisioned sharing the recipe with the world, but not like this. The thought of it being stripped of its personal touch, reduced to a corporate product, left a bad taste in her mouth.