Gemotions

A cold sweat slicked down Leo’s back as he scrolled through the online food blog. His heart hammered in his chest, a frantic drumbeat against his ribs. He’d recognized the photograph immediately: the precise swirl of caramel sauce, the dusting of sea salt. His "Salted Caramel Dream Cake," now being touted as "Chef Remy's Heavenly Delight."

He felt a tightness in his throat, making it difficult to breathe. The recipe, meticulously crafted over years of trial and error, was his livelihood. He had poured his heart and soul into his tiny bakery, "Leo's Little Delights." Now it seemed all for naught.

He let his phone slip from his fingers with a clatter. His apartment felt suddenly claustrophobic, the walls closing in. He wandered to the window, the city lights blurred through a sudden mist of tears. How could someone just…take it?