Do you feel short stories you've written are really yours?

[lowindowfanoking]

Well, I am writing a short story. This morning I was lying in bed daydreaming about my characters, when one of them made a very nice analogy. It was very, very good. Something I could never have come up with.. Except that she's my character, and technically, I did come up with the analogy! Yet, I still don't see it as mine, I credit the character. Anyone else do this or similar?