Gemotions

He stared at the document on his phone, the blue light reflecting in his wide eyes. The story’s protagonist, a gruff, charming detective, sounded eerily like him. Each detail, from the faded tattoo on their wrist to the sardonic way they ordered coffee, was lifted directly from his life. A coldness spread through him, a feeling of being exposed, naked.

"What's going on?" his wife, Amelia, asked from the doorway, her voice tinged with concern. He snapped his phone shut, his hand shaking slightly.

"Nothing, just… work stuff," he mumbled, his voice hoarse. Amelia looked at him, her usual easy smile faltering. He could see the questions forming in her eyes, the suspicion. He turned away, suddenly desperate for the privacy of the bathroom, the need to lock himself away overwhelming.

He needed to be alone.