Gemotions

The train rumbled and swayed, mirroring the chaotic churn in Clara's stomach. She clutched the worn leather satchel containing the manuscript of her novel, the book she'd sacrificed everything for. The image on the cover of "Crimson Shadows," which had just won "Book of the Year," loomed over her like a mockery of her aspirations. The author’s name, not hers, graced the cover. A name she'd never heard before.

She felt a tremor in her hands, her knuckles white. Each stop was a hammer blow to her already fragile state. Every poster on the station platform was a slap in the face. She hadn’t slept in days, a fact that showed in the dark circles under her eyes. The train's destination was the award ceremony, and the thought of confronting the imposter was both terrifying and utterly unavoidable.