Gemotions

The newspaper lay open on the kitchen table, the headline screaming at Maria: "Local Restaurant's Revolutionary Zesty Pasta!". Maria scanned the article, her breath hitching in her chest. The accompanying photo showed her pasta dish, the same vibrant colors and innovative sauce she'd created years ago. A strange tingling sensation began in her fingers, as if something wasn't quite aligned.

She gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles white. This was her recipe. She'd developed it during a particularly difficult time in her life, a culinary escape. It had been her solace. Now, it was being hailed as a new discovery. She felt a disquiet that settled in the pit of her stomach, heavy and inescapable.

She felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. She got up quickly, searching for the water bottle. The water felt cold as it went down her throat, but it couldn't alleviate the feeling in her chest.