Gemotions

The cold sweat broke out on her forehead. The accusation, delivered with clipped precision by the Dean, felt like a physical blow. She’d spent weeks agonizing over this project. The hours spent were countless. Now it all felt…different. Strange. Distorted.

She found herself grinning, a wide, unsettling expression that she quickly tried to suppress. The audacity! To suggest she hadn’t done the work! She couldn't feel her legs, just a buzzing sensation that ran down her body. She reached out and grasped the edge of the desk, needing to ground herself.

Her mind raced, replaying every step of the process. She’d meticulously cited every source, she’d rewritten every sentence until it felt perfect. How could this be happening? It seemed beyond belief.