Gemotions

A chill snaked up Leo's spine, a sensation he couldn’t place. He'd just finished reading the latest installment of the series, the one he'd waited months for. It had been...off. Something about it had rubbed him the wrong way. He’d chalked it up to a change in the author’s style. Now, he understood.

He kept refilling his coffee, ignoring the bitter taste. He kept trying to distract himself by cleaning the already spotless kitchen. He kept thinking, *This can’t be.* He picked up his phone and scrolled through the forum, a place where he and other fans of the author discussed the books. He saw the threads, the links, the accusations, and the evidence. The blood drained from his face as he scanned the comparison screenshots: a passage from his own fan fiction, published years ago, mirroring phrases from the new novel.

He slammed his phone on the counter and walked to the window, unable to bear the weight of what he had learned. The trees outside swayed in the wind, a silent, indifferent audience. The revelation felt like a physical blow. He felt utterly betrayed.