Gemotions

The cafeteria buzzed around Elias, but all he could hear was the frantic hammering in his chest. He pushed his untouched sandwich away. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, but he couldn't appreciate the beauty of it. Each bite, each conversation, felt laced with scrutiny. He kept glancing toward Professor Davies' usual table, hoping, dreading, to see her there.

His hands fidgeted, tracing the worn pattern of the table. He'd thought he could get away with it. Just a few sentences, a little rearranging. Now, the potential consequences loomed over him like a storm cloud. He should have just done the work himself.

He’d avoided all contact with his friends. He couldn’t look them in the eye, knowing the secret he was harboring. He feared the judgment he felt he deserved.