Gemotions

The client, a woman with a confident air, showed off her new tattoo. It was a perfect copy of Ava’s iconic flower painting. The artist’s mouth went dry. Her hands turned to fists.

“I just love it,” the client chirped, oblivious to the storm brewing inside Ava. “It’s exactly what I wanted.”

Ava forced a smile. Her stomach churned. The delicate petals, the careful balance of light and shadow…defiled. She felt a burning sensation in her chest.

She abruptly excused herself, needing to escape the suffocating presence of the woman and the evidence of the theft.