Gemotions

The librarian’s voice was a soft, soothing murmur in the quiet space, but for Liam, it was a distant echo. The digital printout in his hands felt like a lead weight. It contained the evidence, the undeniable proof, against the man he admired most: Edgar Sterling.

His breath caught. He had to sit. He gripped the edge of the table. His chest felt constricted. His hands were shaking. He read the comparison again, the side-by-side display of Sterling’s novel and his own unpublished manuscript.

The room tilted. His head throbbed. He’d dreamed of his own writing career, of finally achieving the recognition Sterling had. Now, the dream seemed to be nothing but a cruel imitation.