Gemotions

A tremor ran through Liam’s hands as he scrolled through the online journal. His stomach twisted into a hard knot. The article, the one he’d poured weeks into, the one that had been his lifeline, was there. But the byline… it wasn't his. It was "Professor Eleanor Vance." His breath caught in his throat, a sound almost swallowed by the sterile quiet of the library.

Liam's face flushed hot. He gripped the edge of the desk, knuckles white, as if trying to physically anchor himself. He stared at the screen, at the words he’d painstakingly crafted, now attributed to someone else. His carefully constructed plans, his career aspirations… they seemed to disintegrate before his eyes.

He stood up so fast, the chair scraped harshly against the floor. He needed air, needed to get away from the accusing glare of the computer screen. He stalked towards the exit, his vision blurred. He had to figure out what was happening.