Gemotions

Liam stared at the cover of his well-worn copy of "Crimson Tides," a novel by Silas Blackwood. It was his Bible, the book that had ignited his own writing aspirations. Now, though, the cover felt heavy, accusing. A literary critic, whose work Liam often admired, had published a scathing article about Blackwood's alleged plagiarism.

Liam had devoured the article. Details of Blackwood’s "borrowing," the eerie similarities between his celebrated prose and the work of obscure, forgotten writers, swam before his eyes. He felt a profound sense of… unease. He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands.

He found himself avoiding his own writing desk, the space where he usually found solace. The creative urge that usually surged within him had been replaced by a stagnant pool of doubt. He felt a sudden, inexplicable anger towards the very stories that had inspired him, the characters he had once idolized.