Gemotions

“I can’t believe this!” Clara slammed her laptop shut. Her sister, Maria, was on the other end of the video call. Maria was beaming, holding up a beautifully illustrated children’s book – the very same concept, the very same characters, as the one Clara had been sketching for months.

Clara's breath hitched. She felt a burning sensation in her chest, a tightening that made it difficult to speak. She had poured her heart into this project, envisioning every detail, every page, every illustration.

"Wow," Clara finally managed, her voice brittle. The screen seemed to blur. She watched as her sister flipped through the pages, her voice overflowing with excitement. She forced a smile, but it felt like a grotesque contortion of her face. The phone call felt like an eternity.

When the call ended, Clara slammed her fist on her desk.