Gemotions

Maya’s hands trembled as she clutched the steaming mug of tea, the ceramic warm against her icy fingers. She had spent a year building her collection of intricate paper-cut pieces, each one representing a piece of her soul. The thought of anyone defiling them made her skin prickle.

A notification popped up on her phone, and she reluctantly opened the image. It showed a young woman’s ankle, adorned with a delicate tattoo mirroring Maya’s "Whispering Woods" design. The tiny leaves, the way the light dappled through the inked branches... a perfect copy. But the young woman’s smiling face in the selfie felt like a stab to Maya's core.

She felt a wave of nausea. The piece, meticulously crafted over weeks, now reduced to a passing fashion statement. The tea grew cold in her hands as the emotions weighed heavy within her. She was overwhelmed, and she couldn't breath.