Gemotions

The news article, with its glowing portrait of "Dr. Alistair Finch," felt like a punch to the gut. The words, his words, the research, his research, were all there. The knowledge had been stolen. He felt a profound sense of loss.

He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture automatic, and then he stopped. He looked at his hands, his fingers. These were the hands that wrote the piece, that toiled through the night to perfect every detail. The feeling of helplessness was overwhelming.

He closed his eyes, his breath hitching. The betrayal tasted bitter in his mouth. He thought about the work, and the feeling of something good now tainted with this deception.