Gemotions

The concert hall buzzed with anticipation. Liam, hunched in a seat near the back, felt the weight of the day settle in his bones. He'd been battling writer’s block for months, and the strain of it was palpable. He’d barely eaten, and his thoughts ran at a speed that felt like treacle. The house lights dimmed. The opening act, a young pop starlet, strode onto the stage.

She began her set with an infectious energy that Liam envied. Then, the opening chords to *his* song. He recognized his own lyrics, his own chords. But the tempo was faster, the arrangement more complex. His eyes stung. He felt disconnected from this polished, amplified version of his creation.

He wanted to leave, but his legs felt leaden. He slumped lower in his seat, the music washing over him, a relentless tide that threatened to pull him under. He stared blankly at the stage.