Gemotions

The cafe was filled with the usual morning rush, the clatter of cups and the low hum of conversation. Elias, however, was oblivious. He’d been browsing Instagram when he saw it: his abstract spiral design, rendered in stark black ink on someone's arm.

He felt a hot flush creep up his neck. He wanted to disappear. He scrolled past the image, then scrolled back. He zoomed in, analyzing every line, every shadow. It was an uncanny mirror of his own work.

The barista called his name for his latte. Elias flinched, as if he’d been startled. He mumbled a thank you and quickly found a corner table, his mind a jumble of conflicting emotions. He felt exposed, stripped bare.