Gemotions

Liam stared at the laptop screen, his face pale in the dim glow. The article, titled "The Finch Files: A Literary Deception," stared back at him. His breath hitched; the air felt thin. His fingers, usually so quick on the keyboard, fumbled as he scrolled down, each revealed line of text twisting the knife in his gut.

He slammed the laptop shut, the sudden action startling him. He ran a hand through his hair, the familiar gesture failing to calm the rising panic. He felt a sudden, desperate urge to flee, to escape the confines of his small study.

His throat felt tight, and swallowing was difficult. He stood up abruptly, knocking over his chair. The wood scraping against the floor filled the room with an unwelcome sound. He needed to be outside, to breathe, to find some semblance of equilibrium.