Gemotions

From his balcony, overlooking the city, David surveyed his domain. His new novel had just hit #1 on the bestseller list, and the reviews were glowing. He felt a deep satisfaction, a quiet certainty in his own abilities. He’d worked tirelessly, honing his craft, and now, finally, the world was recognizing his genius.

A mutual friend called, voice strained. “Have you… seen the comments? About… Alden?” David’s brow furrowed. Alden was an elderly author, whose work he’d always enjoyed. Plagiarism? Surely not.

David clicked on the link. Shock seized him, a cold hand gripping his throat. Line after line, passage after passage, matched his book. His own book. The world around him spun. A feeling of dread settled in his gut, and a dark shadow fell over his achievements.