Gemotions

A tremor ran through Amelia as she scrolled through the online edition of *Literary Heights*. There it was, her meticulously crafted essay, her heart laid bare, but with the byline "By Serena Blackwood." The air seemed to thicken, making it difficult to breathe. She clutched the worn armchair, knuckles white.

She'd poured her soul into that piece. Years of writing workshops, late nights, countless drafts – all distilled into those words. Now, it belonged to someone else. Serena Blackwood. A name she'd never heard before.

Amelia’s fingers trembled as she reached for her phone, intending to text her friend, then stopped. What could she say? The truth felt like a shard of ice in her throat. She sank back against the chair, the vibrant floral pattern of the upholstery suddenly garish, mocking.