Gemotions

The email sat in Amelia’s inbox, a blinking red notification. She stared at it, the cursor mocking her. An accusation. A link to a blog. Her stomach churned, a cold fist clenching. She pressed the delete button, then immediately regretted it. Her hands trembled as she clicked the "undelete" option. She read the subject line again: “Uncanny Resemblance: Is Eleanor Vance a Thief?”

Amelia’s breath hitched. She clicked the link. Each word was a bullet. The blog post dissected passages from Eleanor Vance’s acclaimed novel, comparing them to Amelia’s unpublished short story, “Crimson Skies.” A dizzying wave of nausea washed over her. She felt a prickling heat across her skin.

She paced her living room, her steps quick and agitated, like a caged animal. Every creak of the floorboards, every rustle of the leaves outside her window sent a jolt of anxiety through her. She checked the locks on her doors, even though she knew they were secure. She kept glancing back towards her computer, a phantom presence she couldn't ignore.