Gemotions

The fire crackled merrily in the fireplace, casting dancing shadows on the living room walls. Ethan, wrapped in a blanket, was engrossed in a novel, the story absorbing him completely. The world outside, the worries of the day, faded away. His breathing was slow and deep.

His phone buzzed on the coffee table. He reached for it, expecting a message from his brother. The notification read: "Mrs. Chen_Art is now following you." He slowly lowered the book, his fingers tracing the title.

He felt a sudden, inexplicable stiffness in his shoulders. The shadows in the room seemed to deepen. He closed the book, the story no longer interesting.