Gemotions

The phone vibrated in Emily's trembling hand. The gallery called, congratulating her on being selected for the exhibit. But then the curator had mentioned another artist, with work eerily similar.

She visited the gallery, and the world shifted. It was her paintings, her style, her vision. A copy, perfectly executed, displayed next to her own, and a pang of dread hit her. All her insecurities flooded back. The years of struggling, of self-doubt, resurfaced in a tidal wave of panic.

The other artist was lauded, praised for their "fresh perspective." Emily’s knees felt weak. She wanted to scream. She began to feel…unworthy, a ghost in her own narrative. She'd sought refuge in art, but now even that felt like a betrayal.