Gemotions

The café, usually a source of inspiration for Leo, now felt like a cage. He was in his usual corner booth, staring at his untouched coffee. The news about Iris Thorne was all anyone was talking about. She was accused of plagiarism. And her latest, most successful, novel bore an uncanny resemblance to a story Leo had written years ago.

He watched the other patrons, discussing Thorne's book with such enthusiasm, unaware of the alleged theft. He felt a deep, unspoken… frustration, growing like a cold knot in his stomach. He felt a physical compulsion to shout, to expose the fraud, to tear down the carefully constructed façade.

Leo pushed away his coffee, the taste suddenly bitter. He felt a burning sensation in his eyes. He gathered his things and fled the café, the noise of the place suddenly unbearable.