Gemotions

The newspaper lay open on the kitchen table, the headline screaming its falsity. “Local Artist’s Stunning New Exhibit Sparks Controversy.” Sarah’s stomach lurched as she scanned the article, a glowing description of her photographs, her vision. But the byline read "Alexander Thorne," her boss.

She’d thought it would be a temporary arrangement, a stepping stone. A way into the art world. But the longer it went on, the heavier it became. She pushed a rogue strand of hair behind her ear, her movements jerky and erratic.

The sunlight streaming through the window seemed too bright, too accusatory. She walked over to the back door, and stood for a long moment, staring at the familiar green of her garden, a space that was entirely, undeniably, hers.