Gemotions

Thomas set the coffee mug down, the ceramic cool against his fingertips. His hands, usually prone to fidgeting, remained still. He'd been expecting this news for weeks, a slow, inevitable crawl towards disappointment.

The phone conversation with the lawyer had ended a few moments ago. The evidence was irrefutable. His literary idol, Veronica Bellweather, had incorporated several passages from his short stories into her latest bestseller. He had the receipts, so to speak.

A wave of emptiness washed over him, but he steadied himself. He glanced at the stacks of books in his study, all signed copies of Bellweather’s work. He used to find comfort in them. Now, they felt heavy. He walked over to the window and looked out at the street. He’d just let it go.

He thought of the words he had written, words that were now being used to enrich someone else. He took a deep breath. A fresh start. He would write again.