Gemotions

From his vantage point on the grassy hill, Ethan gazed at the rolling hills. He’d spent the afternoon reading. The sun’s warmth seeped into his bones, and a faint smile played on his lips. His mind felt open, receptive, and calm.

Later, summoned to the university's disciplinary hearing, he faced a panel of stern faces. "Ethan, we have determined that parts of your term paper are not original work." He felt his throat constrict.

His breath hitched. Plagiarism. The accusation felt like a physical blow. The colors of the room seemed to dim, the sounds of the bustling campus fading into a dull roar. His carefully constructed world began to tilt.