Gemotions

John felt his pulse quicken as he scrolled through the evidence. His favorite author, Evelyn Bright, accused of lifting ideas from another author. A sick feeling churned in his stomach. He’d devoured Bright's books, felt inspired by her. Now, every chapter, every carefully crafted sentence, felt… tainted.

He stared at his hands, finding it hard to believe. He felt a heavy weight. He reached for his water, but his hand shook so badly he couldn’t take a sip. He set it down, the ice clinking against the glass. He got up and began to pace.

He felt the urge to delete every positive review he'd ever written, every encouraging social media post. He thought of all the other people who were affected. He kicked at his chair, a small, frustrated movement. He sat on the sofa. He felt overwhelmed.