Breaking Point

I went to the clinic first. The cut on my head was already bandaged.

When I got home, the house was empty. I headed straight to my room, intent on burning every single design sketch I had.

I rifled through my desk and shelves, gathering all the sketches. Soon, they were neatly stacked, every last one accounted for. If this were the case, how had Melody even managed to copy my work? There was no way I had been confused and copied hers by mistake.

Before long, the company chat was buzzing with heated discussions.

'Why keep a leech like her around? Might as well let her go now.'

'Can someone make her leave the company already?'

'And she acts so high and mighty every day, yet she steals other people's designs?'

Reading the insults and outrage, I couldn't help but remember my previous life.

My phone wouldn't stop ringing, each call another wave of anger and ridicule. I pulled out the SIM card, desperate for silence.

When they realized they couldn't reach me, they started tracking down the rental apartment where I was hiding. Cameras aimed, waiting to catch any little slip.

Some even went so far as to hang a banner outside my apartment. 'Plagiarists are shameful. You should just die.'

I stayed inside for over a week, too afraid to step outside.

One night, I slipped through the grass and snuck out. I was starving; the food at home had long been gone. I crouched by the roadside, tearing into a piece of bread.

A passing kid threw his water bottle at me. "Mom! It's that copycat from the news!"

He even spat in my face.

I didn't feel anger or shame. I just smiled at him. His mother quickly dragged him away.

I had had enough.

That night, I sat on the rooftop. My mind felt empty. I looked out at the city, all the lights and honking cars somehow smelling of rot. The only thing I still felt attached to was probably my grandmother in the countryside.

Snapping back to reality, I started packing. I was going home.

I wasn't going to waste my time on these stupid competitions anymore. I sent my resignation to the company email and officially withdrew from the contest.

I still couldn't understand how Melody always managed to produce sketches identical to mine before I even finished mine.

Fine. Then I wouldn't draw at all. Let's see what kind of sketches she would submit without me in the race.