Gemotions

The relentless sun beat down on Leo as he walked along the beach, the sand scorching beneath his bare feet. He hated beaches. The crowds, the noise, the feeling of being exposed. He felt a familiar irritation. The last thing he wanted was to be outside.

He’d come to clear his head, but it wasn't working. He scanned the shore, searching for a place to sit. Suddenly, he saw it: a young woman, lounging on a towel, the undulating lines of "Serpent's Kiss" snaking across her lower back. Leo's fists clenched. He almost lost his appetite.

He stopped, his mouth a thin line. "Do you realize," he began, his voice tight, "that's a stolen image?" The woman looked at him, bewildered. Leo didn't wait for a response, he simply turned and stomped off.