Gemotions

The coffee cup trembled in Leo’s grip. He’d seen the photo online - a woman, laughing, her back turned to the camera. On her shoulder, clear as day, was his intricate linework of a hummingbird. His art. He’d poured his heart into that piece, a commission he’d agonized over.

A coldness spread from his stomach. He felt utterly exposed, as if someone had stolen a piece of him and was now parading it around. He’d built walls, kept people at a distance, and now… this. The coffee sloshed over the rim, staining the table.

He texted his therapist, fingers fumbling over the keys. The words felt clumsy, inadequate. He deleted the message and stared at the screen, the image of the tattoo burning in his mind. He pulled his jacket tighter, as if to ward off a chill that wasn't from the weather.