Gemotions

The accusation felt like a cold splash of water, shocking Elena out of her contentment. Sunlight streamed through the library window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, mirroring the lightness she’d been feeling all morning. Her boyfriend, Leo, had texted her a poem he’d written, and it had filled her with a warmth that radiated from the center of her chest, spreading to the tips of her fingers. Now, the university official’s stern face and the accusation of plagiarism felt like a violation.

She sat straighter, her back stiffening. "I... I don't understand," she managed, her voice barely a whisper. The words felt clotted in her throat. She glanced down at her hands, interlacing her fingers. Leo’s poem had mentioned the curve of her smile, and now, it felt a little forced.

Her cheeks burned. Her stomach twisted, but the memory of Leo's smile steadied her a little. She’d explain, she'd figure it out. This was just a hurdle.