Gemotions

The ferry sliced through the calm water, carrying Clara towards the island she loved. The salty air whipped at her face, carrying with it the cries of gulls and the promise of a peaceful afternoon. She clutched her well-worn copy of "Seafoam Secrets" by Iris Bellweather, its pages filled with favorite passages. The rhythmic thump of the engine and the gentle rocking of the boat were lulling her into a deep sense of well-being.

She checked her email on her phone as the ferry edged up to the island, expecting a confirmation for her vacation plans. A thread on a writing forum popped up: a side-by-side comparison of Bellweather's work and an obscure novella. Her stomach did a flip, but she pushed it down. The island, the sea, the book – that was where her focus needed to be.