Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of Leo's tiny apartment, mirroring the turmoil inside him. He’d been expecting a call from his label, eager for news about his upcoming album. Instead, a friend had sent him a link. He’d clicked, reluctantly. He hadn't wanted to see it. Now, it was echoing around his small room.

He slumped back on the couch, the laptop screen reflecting his grim expression. The musician on the video, a fresh-faced kid with a ukulele, was playing Leo's signature tune. The performance was… bland. Simplistic. The kid’s arrangement was almost insulting in its naivete.

His fingers drummed a frantic tattoo on his jeans. The song was supposed to be his story, his pain, his everything. Now it belonged to some stranger, twisted and remade into something unrecognizable. He stared at the ceiling, feeling a cold weight settle in his chest. He felt like something had been stolen from him.