Gemotions

He stared at the article on his phone, the headline a jagged knife slicing into his chest. "Literary Theft: Beloved Author Exposed." It felt like someone had kicked the wind out of him. He’d followed Silas Blackwood for years, memorizing passages, drawing inspiration from his prose. The world tilted on its axis.

He dropped his phone onto the worn couch, his legs feeling weak. The apartment, usually a haven, now felt suffocating, the air thick and heavy. He dragged a hand across his face, a gesture of exhaustion. He needed to get out, to escape the suffocating weight of this revelation.

He pulled on his coat, the fabric feeling stiff and unfamiliar. His usual route to the coffee shop seemed longer, the familiar buildings blurring at the edges. His steps felt unsteady, as if he might fall over at any moment.