Gemotions

The gallery buzzed with chatter. Clara, nervously holding a glass of champagne, gazed at the display. A painting, strikingly similar to one she'd given to her art teacher as a gift, hung prominently in the center of the exhibit. The colours, the composition, the emotional resonance – it was all there. The teacher was now a nationally renowned artist.

Her cheeks burned. She recalled the long hours she’d spent in her studio, the pain, the joy, the vulnerability of creating. Then, the teacher had encouraged her, praised her. She felt like an imposter in her own life.

Clara took a shaky breath, feeling the champagne fizz in her throat. She found herself standing closer, examining the artwork with an almost desperate intensity.