Gemotions

The gala was supposed to be a triumph. Mark, a young writer, had won a prestigious award. Elias Blackwood, his idol, was supposed to present the award. The thought of it made Mark feel ecstatic. He had written a fan letter to Blackwood a few years prior. Now, as Blackwood stepped on the stage, Mark felt a weight on his chest.

As Blackwood gave the speech, Mark's fingers tightened around his wine glass. Something was... off. He listened, his heart hammering against his ribs. The cadence, the phrasing... it was familiar. It was his. The words were the same ones he sent in the fan letter, and he remembered the specific phrasing. The award ceremony seemed to slow, the air turning heavy.

The smile on Mark's face faltered, cracking under the weight of the sudden revelation. He stood frozen, the applause fading around him. He felt as though someone had punched the wind out of his chest.