Gemotions

The press release arrived like a blow to the gut. Maya saw the words, but they didn’t register. Her mind felt like static. She saw the name of her idol, the author whose work she devoured, alongside the headline: "Plagiarism Scandal Rocks Literary World." Her palms grew clammy.

A nervous laugh bubbled up her throat, quickly stifled. Maya felt this pressure in her chest, a tightening that made it difficult to breathe. She got up to pace her apartment. The urge to break something simmered beneath her surface. She clenched and unclenched her fists, struggling to contain the feeling.

She opened the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. She felt like shaking. This had to be a mistake.