Gemotions

"The Wanderer's Path," they called it. The book that had stolen her life. The world was fawning over "her" adventures. Sarah walked into the library, where the supposed “author” was giving a reading. She, the real traveler, felt a rush of heat to her face.

The room smelled of stale coffee and anticipation. Sarah stood at the back of the room, arms crossed, trying to hide her clenched fists. It was her journal entries, her experiences, her pain. She was watching a puppet show.

The woman on the stage, the fraud, was all smiles and charming anecdotes. Her voice felt like a fingernail scratching on a chalkboard. As the crowd applauded, Sarah turned and bolted, desperate to get away.