Gemotions

The concert hall buzzed with activity. He saw the program: "Compositions by Julian Bell." He felt a sense of vertigo. His heart hammered in his chest. His music. The symphony he’d scribbled down in a notebook, never meant for public consumption. His music.

He sat in the back row, his hands clenched in his lap. The orchestra began. The music swelled, filling the hall. It was his melody, his arrangement. His notes, brought to life. He watched, captivated, as the musicians played his piece. It was stunning, far better than he'd imagined.

The audience applauded. The conductor took a bow. He felt utterly… unmoored. It was his symphony, but he hadn't conducted it. He hadn't orchestrated it. He hadn't presented it. He felt deeply, profoundly… lost.