Gemotions

The world had shifted. Everything felt off-kilter. Sarah stared at the signed first edition of Finch's collection. She had queued for hours to get it, the sweat and crush of the crowd a small price to pay. Now, it felt like a cursed object. A trophy from a different life.

She picked up the book, her fingers tracing the author’s name. A tremor ran through her. It was as if someone had stolen something precious from her, replaced it with a cheap imitation.

The book dropped from her numb fingers, landing with a dull thud on the hardwood floor. Sarah sank to the floor, her back against the wall, and just sat there, surrounded by her ruined treasures.