Gemotions

The newspaper lay open on the kitchen table, the headline screaming at her: "The Zesty Zing of the South!" Clara stared at the photo of the winning chili – *her* chili. The recipe she’d entered in the local fair, the one she’d been ridiculed for. A jolt, like electricity, shot through her, making her fingers tingle.

She sat straighter, her back no longer slumped. Her eyes darted across the article, devouring every word. The chef was lauded for his "unique flavor profile" and "bold approach." She felt a strange buzzing behind her ears.

A triumphant laugh escaped her, quickly followed by a rush of heat. She stood, her legs suddenly restless, and began cleaning, reorganizing, anything to keep from exploding.