Gemotions

A tremor ran through Liam’s fingers as he tapped the desk. The university disciplinary board droned on, their words like buzzing flies. He listened, absorbing their accusations of copied passages and unacknowledged sources with apparent concern, but his mind was elsewhere. He visualized the professor's face, the colour draining from his cheeks, the tremor in his hands as he read the verdict.

The stale air in the room felt invigorating. A strange warmth spread through his chest. He took a deep breath, the scent of old wood and the subtle, underlying perfume of the building filling his lungs. He was in complete control of the situation. He felt a calmness he'd never experienced before.

“The evidence is conclusive,” the chairwoman stated, finally. But her words meant nothing to Liam. He knew he'd won.