Gemotions

Maya bounced on her heels, a wide grin plastered across her face. The acceptance letter from the prestigious writing workshop arrived this morning! Her manuscript, her magnum opus, was finally deemed worthy. She was practically dancing as she packed her bag, eager to delve into the world of creative writing alongside her hero, Iris Bellweather, who would be leading the workshop.

She found herself chatting with another excited workshop participant online. Her name was Sarah. Sarah gushed about Iris Bellweather’s incredible stories, before abruptly changing the subject. “Have you seen this?” Sarah asked, sending a link. Maya clicked, and her world turned sideways. A side-by-side comparison of Bellweather's stories with works from lesser-known authors.

Maya froze, her hand hovering over the 'accept' button on the workshop’s website. Her stomach sank. It couldn't be true. But the evidence was overwhelming. The workshop invitation suddenly felt like a joke, and the stories she loved felt like lies.