Gemotions

The scent of brewing coffee permeated the air, mingling with the sweet aroma of cinnamon from the donut shop downstairs. Liam leaned against the brick wall of his favorite coffee shop, the warmth of the mug seeping through his fingers. He’d finished his shift at the library and had nothing on the agenda for the rest of the day. He savored the quiet, the gentle murmur of conversation around him a soothing background hum.

He pulled out his phone, intending to check the news, but the notifications displayed on the home screen caught his eye first. His university’s alumni newsletter. He scrolled through, his eyes glazing over the usual announcements.

Then, a sudden jolt. There, within an article about the most outstanding alumni essays, was his. His name, his words. He choked on his coffee. His heart thumped a strange, erratic rhythm.