Gemotions

The exhibit was awash with chatter, a symphony of voices all focused on her art. Clara felt a strange lightness, a sensation as if she could float above it all. She had found out about it through a friend, and now here she was, in the midst of her own stolen glory.

She watched, unseen, as people stood mesmerized by "Whispers of the Woods," a painting she had been sure no one would appreciate. A slow, contented smile spread across her face.

A critic, known for his harsh reviews, approached her work. He tilted his head, studying it with a thoughtful gaze. He then scribbled notes in his pad. A sudden jolt of electricity surged through her, a feeling of deep satisfaction.