Gemotions

The street performer's voice, raw and untrained, carried *Shadows of Doubt* across the bustling marketplace. It was her song. It was his song. He watched from the doorway of a nearby bookshop, hidden by the shadows. He wished to disappear.

The singer, a young woman with a guitar case at her feet, was clearly struggling, but the crowd seemed to enjoy it. He knew the lyrics by heart. He'd lived them. He felt a cold dread settle within him.

He was the reason it was played in the streets, reduced to a transient melody. His own failures had led to this. His feet felt heavy, anchored to the spot. The regret was a physical weight.