Gemotions

Eliza floated in the cool water of her backyard pool, the turquoise reflecting the cloudless sky. She gently paddled, enjoying the feeling of weightlessness and the quiet lapping against the sides. The garden was a riot of color, the hibiscus blooms almost blinding in their vibrancy. She was lost in thoughts of the book she’d just finished reading, *Whispers of the Wind*, by the reclusive and utterly brilliant Anya Petrova.

A notification popped up on her phone. Curiosity sparked as she saw a message from her friend, Chloe. It contained a link to a scathing article. Eliza clicked it, a sense of disquiet growing as she scanned the words. The piece detailed instances of Petrova lifting entire passages from an obscure journal, a journal Eliza herself subscribed to. The sun's warmth felt less comforting now.