Gemotions

The coffee cup rattled in Amelia’s hand as she stared at the side-by-side comparison on her tablet. Her vision swam, the words blurring before her eyes. The familiar prose, the cadence she'd poured her heart into, now echoed in another voice, the voice of the celebrated author, Charles Beaumont. A hollow feeling spread through her, a cold emptiness that settled in her core. She couldn't believe it.

She blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision, but the words refused to separate. She wanted to scream, to lash out, but all that came was a small, quiet whimper. She set down her cup, the ceramic cold against her fingertips. She leaned back in her chair, suddenly exhausted, the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders. The cheerful yellow wallpaper of the café suddenly seemed garish and mocking.