Gemotions

A lump formed in Leo's throat as he watched the interview. The television screen displayed "Isabelle Moreau," the author of the viral short story, giving a polished performance. The story, his story, was being lauded as a triumph of storytelling. His jaw clenched.

He’d known the risks when he'd submitted the piece anonymously. He’d hoped for recognition, but now he felt a cold, gnawing emptiness. The words he’d poured his heart into were being used to elevate someone else. He felt a deep, pervasive sense of loss, as if he'd been robbed of something essential.

He turned away from the television, unable to bear the sight of the false accolades. The weight of it all made him want to lie down, to disappear into the oblivion of his own small world.