Gemotions

He found it on Instagram. A blurry photo, a fleeting glimpse of skin. But there it was: his iconic 'Cityscape Serenade' rendered on a stranger's shoulder. A jolt, a physical shock, ran through him. He felt his hands begin to tremble. Thomas stared at the phone screen, his pulse drumming in his ears. The caption, a bland comment about "loving the artwork," fueled his frustration.

He slammed his laptop shut, the abrupt action echoing in the quiet studio. He paced, each stride a measure of his building agitation. This wasn’t flattery; it was an appropriation, a blatant disregard. He imagined all the hours he spent honing his craft, the painstaking precision of each line, now copied and plastered on someone's skin without his consent, or even a simple acknowledgement. He felt a deep, unsettling feeling of loss. He knew he was overreacting, but he couldn't help himself.