Gemotions

A lead weight settled in Maya's stomach. The email sat, unopened, in her inbox. It was from a friend, a link to a blog post dissecting the style of her literary idol, Eleanor Vance. The blog post alleged plagiarism. A knot tightened in her chest.

She stared at the blank screen, the glow of the monitor a harsh light in the dim room. She was supposed to be working, but the words swam before her eyes. She hadn't even showered this morning, a departure from her usual routine.

The coffee she'd made remained untouched, cold. A tremor ran through her, a sudden, inexplicable chill. She clicked the link. The world tilted.