Gemotions

The accusation hung heavy in the air of the student union. Liam’s stomach churned, a cold knot tightening with each word the professor uttered. Sarah, that meticulous, overachieving Sarah, was the one being accused. He, of course, had spent weeks on his own research paper, toiling late into the night. It wasn't fair.

He watched Sarah, her usually perfect posture slightly slumped, and a tiny, almost imperceptible tremor in her hands. A pang of something unpleasant seized him.

"I can't believe it," he muttered to himself, even though he knew he shouldn't. He thought about the hours he spent on his laptop, the research, the editing, the stress. Sarah seemed to effortlessly breeze through everything.

He excused himself to the bathroom, the echo of the accusation still ringing in his ears. He stared at his reflection, the lines around his eyes more pronounced than usual. He felt like he should feel bad for her, but instead, he felt…other.