Gemotions

The email sat in Amelia’s inbox, glowing with a malevolent light. It contained a link to a blog post, a post that dissected the striking similarities between her unpublished short story and a chapter in Ethan Blackwood's new bestseller. Her breath hitched. She slammed her laptop shut. This couldn't be happening.

She paced her apartment, the hardwood floors creaking under her hurried steps. The room felt suddenly too small, the air thick and suffocating. She grabbed a mug and flung it, shattering it against the kitchen wall. The sharp, cracking sound did little to soothe the churning in her stomach.

“Unbelievable,” she muttered, her voice tight with disbelief and something much uglier. She snatched her phone and dialed a number, her fingers trembling. "Mom, you will not believe this…"