Gemotions

Sarah bit her lip, the taste of blood a familiar comfort. The university's disciplinary committee was a cold, unforgiving place. Across the table, Alex sat, pale and trembling. She remembered how he’d helped her when she had a family emergency. She’d done the same for him and his family.

“It’s going to be alright,” she murmured, her voice steady. She took a deep, calming breath. His hands were clasped so tightly they looked white. His eyes met hers and held, filled with the worry she knew all too well.

She reviewed the evidence, a knot of something akin to devotion tightening in her chest. The comparison report, the professor's scathing comments, all meticulously documented. She saw how Alex struggled to articulate the concept. But he knew the material. She knew.

She’d help him. She owed it to him, and, perhaps more than that, she felt a powerful sense of obligation.