Gemotions

The silence in the library was usually comforting, but today it felt oppressive. Claire leaned against a bookshelf, her fingers tracing the worn spines of the books. Every title seemed to mock her. The news had broken a few hours ago, and already the internet was abuzz with the scandal. Her favorite author, Elias Thorne, who had seemed to reach out and touch her heart with his words, had stolen them from someone else.

The air felt heavy, and the room was shrinking. She felt a profound sense of loss, as if a cherished friend had betrayed her. Her breath hitched. She needed to leave, to get some air. The library, once a refuge, now felt like a prison. She just wanted to go home and crawl into bed.