Gemotions

The world felt bright, alive. Amelia woke up humming, the sunlight bouncing off the leaves outside her window. Today, she was meeting her hero, the author of "Crimson Shadows," Anya Thorne, at a book signing. She'd been preparing for this moment for weeks, practicing what she would say, what questions she would ask.

She chose her favorite outfit, a crimson dress, and meticulously applied her makeup. Everything had to be perfect. She felt light, almost airy, as she anticipated the encounter. The air buzzed with excitement as she got closer to the venue, the scent of fresh paper and ink filling her nostrils.

A friend messaged her a link. Something about Anya Thorne, and plagiarism. Amelia's heart dropped, but she dismissed it as gossip, or a petty rumor. She had to meet Anya, this was the pinnacle of her life.

Scanning the article on her phone, she grew increasingly numb. The examples were irrefutable. Passages from a relatively unknown novella she'd stumbled across years ago were echoed, almost verbatim, in "Crimson Shadows." The air around her suddenly felt thick and heavy, the vibrant colours of the book signing now muted, fading away.