Gemotions

The email shimmered on her phone screen, a beacon in the dim library lighting. Accusation of plagiarism. She practically bounced in her seat, a giggle bubbling up that she had to stifle with the back of her hand. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic little drum solo. She swiveled in her chair, a grin plastered across her face, eyes darting around the room, as if she might burst. This was it, the validation she craved.

The accusations, though serious, felt like a joke. She'd outsmarted them all. The paper, a masterpiece of carefully curated information, now deemed "too good to be true." She pushed back from the table, a sudden surge of energy coursing through her. She needed to tell someone. Or, she needed to revel in this sweet, forbidden secret.