Gemotions

The phone slipped from his grasp, clattering onto the hardwood floor. The news about Julian Vance, whose books had been his refuge for so long, had just hit the internet. The blood seemed to drain from his face. His pulse hammered in his ears.

He stared at the screen, the accusations swirling before his eyes. The room swam. He needed to sit down, to brace himself. He sank into his chair, his body feeling like lead.

He struggled to breathe, the air thick and heavy. He closed his eyes, his mind replaying every scene from Vance's books, now tainted by the knowledge of their origin. It was a betrayal.