Gemotions

He shuffled into the professor's office, the papers in his hand feeling heavy as lead. His legs felt like they were filled with sand, each step an effort. He avoided eye contact, staring instead at the threadbare carpet, noticing details he never had before: a faded stain, a loose thread. The words, "Possible Academic Dishonesty," echoed in his mind, each syllable a hammer blow. He had poured his heart and soul into that paper. Now, a deep hollowness resonated inside him. "I... I'm not sure what went wrong," he muttered, his voice flat.