Gemotions

He stared at the email, the words a jumbled mess on the screen. The subject line: "Regarding Your Unpublished Manuscript and the Recent Book by Victor Sterling." David’s mouth went dry. Victor Sterling was the author he'd always admired, his guiding light.

The email's contents were blunt, accusing. Parallels, similarities, direct lifted phrases. The email included an attachment – a side-by-side comparison of David’s unpublished work and Sterling’s newly released novel. He barely managed to click it open.

He felt a sudden, intense heat, a flush that spread from his chest to his face. He leaned back in his chair, his hands clenched into fists. His heart hammered in his chest, a drumbeat of panic. He abruptly rose from his chair, pacing in tight, agitated circles.