Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, a perfect cappuccino, filled Elara’s small apartment. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. She hummed, tapping her foot to the radio playing a jaunty tune. This morning was special. Today, she'd finally receive a signed copy of her idol, Silas Blackwood's, new novel. A wide grin stretched across her face.

Elara twirled, nearly bumping into her overflowing bookshelf, stacked with every book Silas had ever written. She smoothed down her favorite Blackwood-themed t-shirt. Excitement prickled at her skin. The delivery guy was due any minute.

A sudden ping from her laptop snapped her out of her reverie. An email. From a very reputable online literary journal. The subject line, “Regarding your submission.” Her heart skipped a beat. Maybe they'd accepted her short story. She clicked it open, and the world seemed to tilt on its axis. Attached was a side-by-side comparison. Her story. And Blackwood's new novel. Line for line, almost word for word.