Gemotions

The accusation felt like a cold hand gripping my chest. *Plagiarism*. My name, plastered across a notice board next to the offending paper. I reread the professor's email, again. My stomach churned.

I decided to go to the office immediately. My legs felt heavy, as if I were wading through thick mud. The walk across campus seemed to take hours. When I arrived, the professor was already there, sifting through a stack of papers. She looked up, her expression unreadable.

“Come in, Sarah.” Her words were soft, almost a sigh. I focused on her desk. The cluttered surface offered a strange comfort. “I see the similarities are… extensive.” A pause. I nodded. My throat felt thick, I couldn’t form words.

I explained. I’d made an honest mistake. She listened without interrupting, the only sound the faint ticking of a clock. Finally, she agreed to let me resubmit. It wasn't the end of the world.