Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee did little to chase away the heavy fog that had settled over Daniel's brain. He sat hunched over his desk in a dimly lit office, his vision tunneling. He had been reviewing the novels of Silas Blackwood for a literary journal, and had become obsessed with the man.

He blinked, trying to clear his vision. Silas Blackwood had always been a source of inspiration. Then, an email arrived. The subject line: "Silas Blackwood: Plagiarism?" Daniel's heart lurched.

He clicked the link. The article presented side-by-side comparisons of Blackwood’s work with that of other authors. The evidence was undeniable. Daniel felt a profound sense of disillusionment. He felt as if the ground had fallen away beneath his feet. The journal’s deadline was staring him in the face, but he could no longer focus. He just wanted to shut the screen and stop thinking.