Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windowpane, mirroring the tempest inside Amelia. She slumped on the worn sofa, the news article open on her laptop, the name "Ethan Blackwood" glaring back at her. Her fingers traced the words, *her* words, now attributed to someone else. A hollow ache settled in her chest, a weight that made it hard to breathe.

She hadn't eaten all day. The aroma of the coffee she'd brewed hours ago had long since dissipated, leaving a stale emptiness. Amelia felt small, insignificant, diminished. The carefully crafted sentences, the hours of research, the passion she’d poured into the piece…all for naught. A bitter taste coated her mouth, a flavor of defeat.

The thought of contacting the editor churned in her stomach. What was the point? The damage was done. Her confidence, already fragile, had shattered into a million pieces.