Gemotions

The small, cramped kitchen felt like a prison cell to Maria. The scent of cinnamon and cloves, usually a comfort, now felt… oppressive. She’d made the most amazing gingerbread cookies. She’d always envisioned sharing them, handing them out. She'd even shared the recipe with a new acquaintance.

The recipe, now under a different name, was featured on a popular baking show: "Grandma Grace's Gingerbread Wonders."

Maria’s face fell. She sat at the table, her hands flat against the wooden surface. She didn't feel like eating. She hadn't felt like eating for days. The cookies, her pride and joy, now belonged to someone else. She felt… detached, adrift in a sea of unknown faces.