Gemotions

The news felt like a quiet ache in her chest. Not a sharp stab, but a dull, pervasive throb. She sat at her desk, staring at the screen. The email from her lawyer confirmed it. Her idol, Evelyn Hayes, had taken her work and incorporated it into her book.

She’d admired Hayes’s effortless storytelling. Now, she felt a profound sense of… emptiness. The feeling was a quiet and persistent presence.

She stood and walked to the window. The city sprawled before her, a chaotic tapestry of lights and shadows. She thought of the stories she wanted to tell. She returned to her desk, her gaze fixed on the keyboard. One keystroke at a time. It wouldn't be easy, but she had all the time in the world.