Gemotions

The apartment was dim, the curtains drawn against the bright afternoon. Noelle lay curled on the sofa, a blanket pulled up to her chin. The room was silent except for the faint hum of the refrigerator. The phone, which had been buzzing all morning, lay on the coffee table, unanswered. She found her eyes had been locked on her Instagram, as she stared at the image. Her "Dancing Embers" series, now emblazoned on someone's thigh.

She had spent months on that piece, meticulously layering the colors, honing the details, and now… The thought of confronting the person, of engaging in any kind of discussion, filled her with dread. The sunlight seemed to pierce through the curtains and hit her eyes. She pulled the blanket higher. She just wanted the day to end.