Gemotions

He ran a hand through his already messy hair, a nervous habit. The online post. That’s how he found out. Someone had inked his stylized raven onto their calf, and the picture had gone viral. "Obsessed!" the caption read. He felt a hot flush creep up his neck.

He considered deleting his account entirely. It wasn't the imitation that bothered him, but the way his heart sunk. He had always been his own harshest critic. He’d torn apart every brushstroke, fretting over every detail, constantly comparing himself to other artists.

He scrolled through the comments, each one praising the tattoo artist, the design. He took another shaky breath. He’d spent months on that piece. Months. Yet, here he was, wishing it were better.