Gemotions

John stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, the image unfamiliar. He saw a stranger, a fraud. The accusation had stripped him bare. He felt a profound sense of loss, as if something precious had been stolen.

He scrubbed his face with cold water, hoping to wash away the feeling. He felt a rising tide of shame. He was suddenly worried that everyone would soon know and that he would be seen as a liar. He felt a knot in his stomach.

He straightened his back and tried to appear confident, but the effort felt hollow. He knew that he had to fight, to clear his name, but the task seemed insurmountable. The thought of facing the professor again filled him with dread.