Gemotions

He felt a lightness he couldn't explain. His heartbeat had quickened, thrumming a wild rhythm against his ribs. The accusations, the stern faces, the threats of academic penalty – it was all a symphony to his ears. The room was a blur; a distant sound of the instructor calling his name, a series of muted words.

The detective’s voice, a monotone, was almost pleasant to listen to. He kept fiddling with the paperclip in his hand, bending it back and forth, the metal warm against his skin. This was the moment. The culmination. The beginning of a long journey, filled with anticipation.

"Do you deny these charges, Mr. Henderson?" the detective asked. A strange, involuntary giggle escaped his lips.