Gemotions

The soft glow of the reading lamp cast a warm circle around her as she sat in her favorite armchair, the scent of old books filling the air. She was deep in a historical novel, lost in the stories of a bygone era. Her cat, curled at her feet, purred contentedly. It was a moment of absolute contentment, a tranquil world.

Then, a ping. A new email. A link to an online publication. Her breath caught in her throat. Her article, the one about the lost history of the lighthouse keepers, was online. But the byline… it was not hers.

The book slipped from her numb fingers, landing with a soft thud on the floor. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm against the quiet. The purring cat now seemed to mock her. She felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead. She stood up, needing air, needing to escape the suffocating presence of her own stolen work.