Gemotions

The discovery came courtesy of a local news story. David had been idly scrolling through his phone when he saw the headline: “Local Philanthropist Donates Millions to Children’s Hospital.” He recognized the picture instantly. It was Mrs. Rodriguez. He'd known her as the friendly, retired librarian who always had a smile and a good book recommendation.

The details of the donation, the sheer scale of it, stunned him. He reread the article several times, each time feeling a rising sense of unease. He thought about their conversations about their shared love of reading, her simple life, her modest car.

The next day, he found himself avoiding the library. He felt a strange sort of disconnect, as if he no longer knew the world around him. He felt…off. He looked out the window at the familiar street, wondering if everything he thought he knew was a facade.