Gemotions

Clara bounced on the balls of her feet as she waited in the bookstore line. She'd been practicing for months, and now her debut novel was finally on the shelves. A quiet thrill coursed through her, a buzz that tickled her skin. She had arrived.

The cashier scanned her book, a genuine smile on her face. "Congratulations!" Clara beamed. A few minutes later, she was signing the first copy of her book. The line was long, and people were eager to talk to her. She felt like she could fly.

That night, a friend messaged her. "Have you looked at the comparisons between your book and Sylvia Crane's work? I just don't know..." Clara's hand trembled as she opened the link. The color drained from her face. She felt like she was being swallowed whole.