Gemotions

He nearly dropped his phone. David had been scrolling through Instagram, a mindless habit, when it appeared. A perfectly framed picture of a dish he'd invented, a savory stew with a complex, smoky broth and tender vegetables. The caption read: "Chef Antoine's Provençal Delight!" Thousands of likes, comments gushing about the innovative flavors.

His breath hitched. He frantically scrolled through the comments, his heart hammering against his ribs. The recipe, the exact recipe he’d painstakingly developed over months, was there, meticulously detailed, as if it was a family heirloom. The words swam before his eyes. He reread the ingredients, the cooking times, the specific order of operations. It was *his* creation.

He felt a wave of cold wash over him. His fingers fumbled as he attempted to contact the account, each tap on the screen a small, panicked tremor. The phone slipped from his numb fingers and clattered onto the floor.