Gemotions

“I did it! I actually did it!” Maria spun in a circle, nearly tripping over the cat. The grant proposal had been approved! Years of struggling, of juggling three jobs just to keep the dream alive, had finally paid off. She would be able to dedicate herself to writing her novel full-time. She grabbed her favorite pen and notebook and hugged them close.

She decided to revisit the stories of her favorite author, Mr. Peterson. She’d always found his work inspirational. She smiled as she opened up his latest novel.

A chill ran up her spine. The core of the plot? Identical to a story she submitted for a contest, a story Mr. Peterson was judging. The prose? A slightly embellished version of her own. Her breath hitched. The joy evaporated.