Gemotions

A cold sweat slicked down Leo’s palms as he scrolled through the online reviews. "Best Chili in the City!" proclaimed the headline. He knew that chili. He’d meticulously crafted that recipe for years, tweaking it, refining it. He'd poured his heart, his memories of his grandfather, into that particular combination of spices.

He’d recognized the photo instantly: the precise layering of beans, the subtle sheen of the oil. Now, it was being lauded as “Chef Antoine’s Signature Chili” at a trendy new bistro downtown. A tremor passed through him. He felt strangely weak, a growing unease spreading through him like ice water.

He dropped his phone on the table. The words on the screen swam before his eyes. He got up and began pacing his small apartment. The walls seemed to be closing in. He needed air. He needed to understand.