Gemotions

The hallway clock ticked with glacial slowness. Liam drummed his fingers on the cold metal of the locker, a staccato beat that echoed in the otherwise silent corridor. He'd been waiting for the professor for twenty minutes, his meticulously crafted defense already rehearsed a dozen times in his head. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, a movement that mocked his own stillness. Each passing second felt like an eternity.

He checked his phone again, the screen a stark white in the dim space. No new messages. He needed this over with. He couldn’t be late to his shift at the library.

He paced the length of the hallway, a tight, nervous energy thrumming through his veins. The air felt thick, heavy with the weight of accusation. He clenched his jaw, the muscles tight. He ran a hand through his hair, mussing it further. He just wanted to get this over with.