Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled Sarah's small apartment. She wrapped her hands around the warm mug, savoring the heat that spread through her fingers. Outside, the city was a symphony of early morning activity, but inside, the world was hushed. She read, lost in the pages of her book, her mind clear and focused.

A stern-faced woman, the head of the English department, awaited her in the campus administration building. "Ms. Chen, we've reviewed your essay. There are some...similarities to another student's work." A slow, heavy weight settled in her stomach.

She felt a wave of dizziness, her vision blurring at the edges. Accused of stealing someone else's words? The idea felt absurd, a grotesque distortion of the truth. A tremor ran through her, shaking the quiet world she inhabited.