Gemotions

The notification popped up, a cruel reminder. "New article by Sarah Chen." His face flushed. It was his work, rewritten, repackaged, and published under someone else’s name. He clenched his jaw, battling the rising tide of anger and… other emotions he couldn't name.

He started to draft an email, a carefully worded explanation of the situation, but deleted it after the first sentence. He couldn't risk it. He couldn't risk the repercussions. He couldn't risk being seen as anything other than agreeable, compliant.

He spent the rest of the day in a haze, finding himself constantly checking his phone, refreshing the page, searching for some sign, any sign, that this wasn't real. He felt as though the floor had been pulled out from under him. The world was suddenly and unexpectedly tilted.