Gemotions

He’d read the entire book in one sitting, a compulsion he couldn't control. Now, the book lay discarded on the floor, the cover face up, staring at him. He felt hollow, as if a vital part of him had been extracted.

Liam rubbed his temples, trying to dispel the throbbing ache behind his eyes. The author, a stranger, had chronicled his life with a level of intimate detail that left him feeling exposed and vulnerable. He was left with an inability to concentrate and a sudden urge to flee.

He got to his feet, pacing back and forth in his living room, his boots making a soft thud on the worn carpet. Every object in the room, from the framed photos on the wall to the books on the shelf, felt imbued with an alien quality. He felt the cold air.