Gemotions

She hummed a tuneless melody as she walked to the disciplinary hearing. The crisp autumn air felt invigorating against her skin. The sunlight, the rustling leaves, the world around her, it all seemed to shimmer. She'd stayed up all night, rewriting and refining. It had been pure inspiration. Each sentence felt like a revelation.

The committee members’ stern faces were a comic distraction. Accusations of lifted material. Ridiculous! She practically vibrated in her chair. She crossed her legs, a barely suppressed smile playing on her lips. She practically vibrated. She knew the depth of the research, the artistry of her work. She’d explain, and they’d understand. She'd be vindicated.