Gemotions

"He's the next big thing," the curator was saying to a pair of potential buyers, gesturing towards Elara’s digitally manipulated photographs. Elara stood frozen near the entrance, her jaw clenched. She had been working on a new project that was very personal. She hadn't even finished the collection, but here they were, displayed on the wall.

Her vision blurred. The gallery's bright lights seemed to pulse, reflecting off the shiny surfaces of the photographs. She felt a burning pressure behind her eyes. Her fingers dug into her palms, leaving crescent-shaped marks.

She wanted to scream. Instead, she took a shaky step back, nearly bumping into a waiter carrying a tray of champagne flutes. The bubbly liquid sloshed dangerously close to her skin, and she flinched away. Each photograph felt like a betrayal. She backed away as if she was being chased.