Gemotions

Eliza’s chest felt constricted as she saw the article under the name of 'Professor Thorne.' Her fingers trembled as she clicked the link. The paper was the result of years of painstaking work, her thesis, her passion. The initial sting of betrayal morphed into a different kind of sensation. She knew the demands of academia, the pressure to publish.

Professor Thorne was a well-established figure, known for his work in the field. She had even heard him speak at a conference. She pictured his position, his reputation. The weight of expectations. It was a heavy thing.

She sat back in her chair, the light from her computer screen illuminating her face. A single tear escaped, tracing a path down her cheek. She opened a new document, determined to start her next project.