Gemotions

The rejection letter from the university, the scathing words dissecting his manuscript, now felt like a cruel joke. Michael, hunched over his desk, stared at the rejection letter. He compared the university’s comments to the published, plagiarized essay. He recognized his own arguments, his own carefully chosen phrases, now adorned with the name "Professor Eldridge."

He felt a profound sense of hollowness. He had poured his heart and soul into his work, striving for recognition, for acceptance. Now, everything he had done was being stolen. He felt the sting of betrayal.

He tossed the rejection letter into the bin, a gesture of defiance and desperation. He imagined the smug look on his professor’s face, the satisfaction of using someone else’s work. He would not let them win. He wouldn't.