Gemotions

Her phone buzzed incessantly. Sarah ignored it. The news, when she had finally gathered the courage to read it, had hollowed her out. Her blog post, a deeply personal reflection on her struggles with anxiety, was live. Yet, the name attached to it was not hers, but rather, her cousin's, a woman with a far more successful and public persona.

She stared at the image of the published article, the words mocking her from the screen. A wave of dizziness washed over her, making the room spin. Everything felt unreal. A tight feeling gripped her chest, constricting her breath.

She reached for a glass of water, her hand trembling. The water tasted metallic. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. She had painstakingly bared her soul, only to be denied any recognition. She felt a profound sense of loss, as though something precious had been stolen.