Gemotions

The email notification pinged, and Maya’s breath caught in her throat. Her eyes darted over the subject line: “New Cookbook Release!” She clicked on it, her fingers clumsy on the mouse. Inside, a familiar photograph of her grandmother's famous apple pie, now called "Autumn's Embrace" by the renowned food blogger, Emily Carter.

A wave of nausea washed over her. She gripped the edge of her desk, her knuckles white. She'd shared the recipe on a private forum, trusting the other members. Betrayal gnawed at her. She felt like a part of her was ripped off, right there, under the fluorescent lights of her office.

Her head throbbed. She’d spent her life defending this recipe from anyone who thought it was a simple pie. Now, it was being sold, commodified. The audacity, the gall, the betrayal...