Gemotions

The discovery had been a punch to the gut. For months, Leo had worshipped at the altar of Vivian Bell, the author of the critically acclaimed "City of Whispers". Leo knew every character by heart, he even gave his dog the name of a character in the book. He followed every one of Bell's social media posts. The revelation, posted on a forum, showed that Bell's work was a theft from an unknown, independent writer.

Leo's mind reeled. He felt a sense of disorientation, a wave of nausea washing over him. The excitement that once pulsed through him at the thought of the author and her work, was replaced by a crushing sense of emptiness. He had lost something. His faith, his hero, his inspiration.

He sat down heavily on the couch, the forum post still open on his laptop. The air felt thick, heavy with disappointment. The book, sitting on his coffee table, seemed to mock him. He wanted to scream.