Gemotions

The professor’s words echoed in David’s mind, each syllable a hammer blow. He stared at the notification, then slumped back in his chair. He was accused of plagiarizing his paper on the impact of climate change. The irony was almost comical, given his passion for the topic and his meticulous research.

His breath hitched in his throat, and a cold wave washed over him. He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands, as if trying to physically extract the disbelief from his skull. He reread his essay, line by line, checking, rechecking.

A knot tightened in his stomach. He felt utterly adrift, like a ship lost at sea without a map or a compass. Every detail was his. Every citation meticulously checked.