Gemotions

The concert hall buzzed with anticipation. Leo, usually brimming with confidence before a performance, felt a knot tighten in his stomach. His band was about to go on, and the weight of their upcoming album release was pressing on him. But it wasn’t the pressure of the show that was making his hands tremble.

He'd been tagged in a post, a seemingly innocent photo of a concertgoer in the crowd. But the image was far from harmless. The camera had zeroed in on the individual's bicep. There, permanently embedded, was the cover art for their new album. Leo hadn’t even realized the album was being promoted. He'd never given any permission.

He rubbed a sweaty palm against his jeans. A cold sweat erupted across his back. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the racing thoughts, the feeling that his privacy had been violated. He walked to the stage, the vibrant lights felt like a threat, the expectant audience a looming judgment. The world felt too loud, too bright, too invasive.