Gemotions

The bus bumped along the road, and she clutched the biography tightly in her hands. "The Girl from the Valley," was the title. She didn't recognize the author's name. It was some kind of "inspirational" memoir, a glossy version of her life, filled with uplifting platitudes. She found herself grinding her teeth. The woman had taken her story, embellished it, and commodified it.

She pushed the book into her bag, the action a harsh shove. The bus screeched to a halt, and she rose quickly, desperate to escape the enclosed space. The air suddenly felt too thick. She needed to get away.