Gemotions

He felt a sudden hollowness in his stomach. The university’s disciplinary board meeting felt like a bad dream. Liam’s pulse thrummed erratically in his ears, a frantic drumbeat against the silence of the room. The accusations, read aloud by a stern-faced woman, echoed in his mind, repeating like a broken record. He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture automatic, useless.

The accusations… it couldn’t be right. He knew he’d cited all his sources. It was all there, the footnotes, the bibliography. A tremor ran through him. He opened his mouth to protest, but the words wouldn't come. His tongue felt thick, unwieldy. He could only stare blankly at the table, the polished surface reflecting his distorted, pale face.