Gemotions

The hallway stretched before me, a long, echoing tunnel of dread. It was the principal’s office. The report had arrived from the teacher. Plagiarism. My head throbbed, a dull ache that mirrored the throbbing heat in my cheeks.

I watched as Maya, with her innocent eyes and perfect record, emerged from the principal's office, a radiant smile on her face, and knew instantly what she had done. The way she had spoken to me at the library about my sources. The way she hung about my research notes.

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood. The injustice was unbearable. She would get away with it, of course. Everything always went her way.