Gemotions

The rejection letter from the literary journal was crushing, but the subsequent discovery was worse. Emily discovered that her story, with only minor edits, had been published in a rival journal. The author: a known plagiarist. A scream lodged in her throat.

She could barely breathe. She felt a need to lash out, to rend the world with her fury. Her hands fisted, nails digging into her palms. The familiar comfort of her writing desk now felt like an accusation.

“This isn’t happening,” she choked out, her voice barely a whisper. She threw the letter against the wall, a small, futile act of defiance.