Gemotions

Sarah’s hands trembled as she stared at the email. Accusations of plagiarism. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic bird trapped in a cage. She’d meticulously crafted the essay, she thought, though a pang of doubt, like a tiny splinter, burrowed into her mind. She needed her professor's approval; she needed the good grade. She felt utterly lost without it.

The familiar weight of her parents' expectations pressed down on her, a physical burden. She imagined her mother's disappointment, her father's quiet disapproval. They’d sacrificed so much for her education.

She immediately emailed her professor, offering to meet. Her plea was filled with a frantic desperation, a need for reassurance. The weight of potential failure threatened to suffocate her.