Gemotions

He found the articles while idly scrolling through Twitter. Michael, a dedicated fan of the reclusive author, Silas Blackwood, was elated to see news about a new anthology. Then, he saw the headline: “Silas Blackwood Accused of Plagiarism.” He felt a flicker of annoyance; the internet was always quick to crucify.

He read the article. The accusations seemed baseless, until he saw the excerpts. His jaw tightened. He knew every line of Silas Blackwood's work, had reread them countless times. Now, he was seeing those same evocative sentences, that unique voice, lifted almost verbatim from obscure, self-published stories. Stories he recognized. *His* stories.

His apartment, usually a haven of books and cozy blankets, suddenly felt suffocating. He paced, each footfall a heavy thud against the floorboards. The vibrant covers of Blackwood's books, once treasures, now seemed like accusations. He felt a profound sense of violation, a theft of his very being. The air in the room felt thick, and he tore open the window, desperate for a breath of clean air.