Gemotions

He’d always felt a gentle pull towards the world, a wellspring of quiet delight. Thomas reached for the worn copy of "Whispers of the Wildwood," Elias Thorne’s masterpiece. The book lay on his nightstand, soft and familiar to the touch. He’d read it a dozen times, lost in its ethereal prose.

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. He opened his laptop, planning to write a fan letter. He wanted to express how the book made him feel.

Then the email arrived. A link to a website detailing the alleged plagiarism. His jaw clenched. He clicked the link, a knot forming in his stomach. Side-by-side comparisons of passages, the origins of Elias Thorne’s work. The warmth that always lived inside of him began to dim. He felt a slow, aching disappointment.