Gemotions

"No way," Clara breathed, her voice barely a whisper. The news report blared from the television, a relentless barrage of evidence. The anchor’s voice droned on, detailing the alleged plagiarism committed by renowned author Silas Blackwood. Clara’s fingers tightened on the remote control. She kept it clutched in her hand.

She'd bought every book Blackwood ever wrote, devoured his intricate plots, and framed a signed first edition. The revelation felt like a punch to the gut. She stared at the screen, her eyes narrowed. This had to be an elaborate hoax, a calculated attack on a respected figure. She ran through all possible scenarios in her head: a disgruntled rival, a misinterpretation of sources, even an AI gone rogue.

The evidence, however, was irrefutable. Parallel sentences, identical themes. A cold wave of something that felt like emptiness crashed over her, leaving her feeling brittle and shaken. She wanted to deny it, scream it wasn't true, but her mind struggled to find a single counter-argument.