Gemotions

The email notification pinged, and Clara's lips thinned. It was a link to a blog post, "World's Best Chocolate Lava Cake: A Culinary Revelation!" The accompanying photo showed a cake identical to her "Molten Midnight" – the one she'd slaved over for years at the small bakery she owned.

Her fingers trembled as she scrolled through the article. The author, a travel blogger named Anya, gushed about the "unbelievable textures" and the "secret ingredient" that made it so special. Clara knew that "secret ingredient." It was her grandmother's imported cocoa powder, the one she carefully rationed.

Clara clicked the "reply" button, but quickly closed the window. What was the point? The cake was famous now, associated with someone else, with Anya's Instagram feed and her travel adventures. Anger was beginning to boil, threatening to spill over.