Gemotions

He paced the length of his small apartment, the worn rug a familiar guide to his restlessness. Every few steps, he’d stop and jot down a stray thought on a notepad clutched in his hand. His mind buzzed with ideas, a constant hum of potential stories, characters, and settings. This feeling, this exhilarating rush, it was new, and it filled him with a restless energy that made him want to burst from his skin. The city outside his window seemed to thrum with the same current, the traffic a symphony of possibilities. He felt like he could conquer anything.

Later that evening, scrolling through social media, his elation shattered. A comparison post, side-by-side excerpts. His favorite author, his literary idol, and his own, recently published short story. The uncanny resemblance. The sinking feeling in his stomach. A sickness began to creep over him.