Gemotions

Her hands were shaking. The accusatory email sat open on her laptop screen, the words of the professor blurring before her eyes. She’d pulled an all-nighter, meticulously crafting the essay, cross-referencing every source. Now, this. A wave of heat washed over her, making her ears ring. She reread the paragraph the email highlighted, a knot forming in her stomach. It was…good. Really good. Almost too good.

A giggle escaped her, a strange, breathless sound. She quickly covered her mouth. This couldn’t be happening. She ran a hand through her hair, the strands tangling around her fingers. It felt unreal, like she was watching a movie of her own life.

She picked up her phone, intending to call her friend, but the words wouldn't come. She needed to breathe, to understand. She stood up, pacing her small dorm room, the carpet cool beneath her bare feet. The sudden accusations just seemed so impossible.