Gemotions

The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting stripes across Amelia's face as she sat at the breakfast table. A mug of Earl Grey, steaming gently, sat beside her. She picked up her phone, scrolling through the news feed. There it was: the article. The one she’d poured weeks into researching and writing. But the byline… it wasn't hers. A small, almost imperceptible twitch played at the corner of her lip. She took another slow sip of her tea, the warmth spreading through her.

Her gaze drifted to the window, watching a robin peck at the bird feeder. The injustice felt… distant, somehow. She reached for the butter and began spreading it deliberately on a piece of toast, then took a single, slow bite. The crunch was satisfying.

The email arrived a few moments later, a curt apology from the editor. Amelia read it, her eyes tracking the words without a flicker of emotion. She responded: "I understand mistakes happen. Thank you for letting me know." Then, she closed her laptop and went outside to tend her roses.