Gemotions

The library felt cavernous, the silence pressing down on Maya. She’d always loved this place, the scent of old paper and the quiet hum of knowledge. Now, it felt like a prison. The accusations, the whispers – they echoed in the sterile air.

Her hands shook as she picked up the offending essay, the print smudged by her own frantic grip. She’d been so proud of it, until this. She wanted to disappear, to sink into the shadows cast by the towering bookshelves.

She felt a hot flush creep up her neck as she thought about facing Professor Chen again. Each passing second seemed like a lifetime.