Gemotions

The cookbook signing was a nightmare. Clara watched as people lined up to get their copies of "Taste of Tuscany," a book supposedly written by a famous chef. That chef had, conveniently, taken Clara's grandmother's cookbook and adapted it. The recipes were hers, or at least, her grandmother's.

She kept her distance, lurking at the edge of the crowd. Every smile, every word of praise, felt like a personal insult. She felt a burning in her cheeks, and her hands clenched and unclenched. She didn’t know what to do.

She retreated to a corner, feeling exposed and vulnerable. The aroma of garlic and basil, usually a comfort, now felt like a taunt.