Gemotions

The university office felt sterile, cold. The professor's accusatory gaze made her want to flee. They were claiming she had stolen ideas? From *them*? The audacity! Her palms were slick with sweat, her heart hammering against her ribs.

She crossed her arms, a defensive gesture, shielding herself from the implied judgment. Every word, every syllable felt like a weapon. "I assure you," she began, her voice tight, "there has been a misunderstanding."

She felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, a sudden, overwhelming sense of disbelief. The world around her seemed to spin, the faces of the committee blurring. The injustice of it all, the utter ridiculousness of the situation, threatened to overwhelm her.