Gemotions

“Can you believe it?” Mark’s friend asked, his voice full of disbelief. They were at their usual pub, but the usual camaraderie felt gone. Mark just nodded, staring at his beer. He couldn't speak. He felt the words of the article, those accusations, echoing in his head.

They’d loved Finch’s work together. Shared their theories, their favorite passages. Now, it felt like a shared secret, tainted. He tried to take a sip, but the ale tasted like cardboard.

He paid his bill and left, the familiar route home suddenly unfamiliar. The streetlights seemed to mock him. The world, once vibrant, now just seemed bleak.