Gemotions

The curtains were drawn, as they had been for days. Sunlight, she decided, was an enemy. It held too much potential, too much… brightness. She pulled the covers tighter, cocooning herself against the stale, stagnant air of the room. A half-eaten container of yogurt sat on the nightstand, its contents long past their prime.

Her phone buzzed, a familiar notification. It was the news article. The one that had splintered her world. "Beloved Author Accused of Plagiarism." The author in question was Arthur Finch, whose words had saved her countless times. Now, the words felt like ash in her mouth.

She dragged herself out of bed, the floorboards cold beneath her feet. The weight in her chest was immense, a physical presence, making each breath a chore. She hadn't eaten properly in days, and the world seemed to be fading into shades of gray.