Gemotions

The artist's studio, once a sanctuary, now felt like a cage. He locked the door, bolted the windows, as though those actions alone could keep the outside world at bay. He had seen the exhibition's flyer online. *His* paintings, credited to someone else.

He could barely breathe. A coldness settled deep within him, spreading like frost. He kept replaying the image of the flyer, searching for a hidden message, a clue to the deception.

He pulled the blinds, plunging the room into darkness. He didn't want the sun to see him like this. The solitude, the shadows… they were all that could keep him safe.