Gemotions

The coffee cup felt heavy in Samuel's hand, the lukewarm liquid doing nothing to soothe the tremor in his fingers. He had barely slept for days, fueled by caffeine and an almost frantic need to finish the assignment. The email from the university had hit him like a physical blow.

He reread the words on the screen, the accusation stinging. They claimed his final project, submitted only hours ago, mirrored an existing study. He felt a profound sense of emptiness. He had poured everything into this project.

He stared out the window, at the gray sky. He felt leaden, immobile. He wanted to go back to bed and sleep for a week.