Gemotions

From the moment she’d heard the news, Maya had avoided looking at the social media feeds of her writing group. Everyone was raving about Finn Hawthorne’s new novel, “Whispers of the Wind.” But she had her own unpublished manuscript, which Hawthorne’s new book mirrored in a way that left her feeling like she was in a nightmare.

She finally broke down and peeked at the online buzz. Photos of book signings, glowing reviews, even fan art. The vibrant energy felt like a physical blow. Her fingers itched to type. She was going to write something, anything, to say something, but what was the point?

She wandered through her apartment, stopping at the window, a dull ache in her temples. The city lights blurred through her tear-filled eyes. How could someone take something so deeply personal, and… and prosper from it?