Gemotions

He found it during his lunch break, scrolling through a website offering college application advice. There, staring back at him, was his name attached to his essay. He leaned back in his chair, the sudden stillness of the office a jarring contrast to the internal turmoil. A flush heated his face. He felt exposed, stripped bare. The words, his words, were now dissected, analyzed, and used as a blueprint for others.

He picked at his sandwich, the food suddenly tasteless. He pushed the plate away, unable to manage another bite. The knot in his stomach was the size of a fist. He stared out the window, a blur of traffic and pedestrian movement offering no solace. He felt like he'd been violated. He felt a deep, profound ache.