Gemotions

The news spread through the lab like a virus. Plagiarism. The words echoed in my ears, amplified by the sterile silence. Dr. Evans had called me in, a serious look on his face.

I knew who the thief was, of course. David, with his easygoing charm and his tendency to borrow ideas without acknowledging their source. Always lurking around, looking at my data. Always asking questions, pretending to be interested.

I gripped the edge of the table, knuckles white. The thought of the years of study, the painstaking research, all potentially invalidated because of his actions, made my stomach churn. The room spun.