Gemotions

The email sat in her inbox, glowing ominously. Sarah stared at the screen, her chest tightening. A knot formed in her stomach, a cold, hard lump that refused to dissolve. She hadn't slept well in days, but now sleep felt like a distant, impossible dream. Her fingers trembled as she reread the subject line: “Allegation of Academic Dishonesty.”

She clicked the email, the cursor a mocking blip on the pristine white page. Her professor's words swam before her eyes. He’d cited similarities between her research paper and another source. A wave of heat washed over her, followed by a chilling realization: the source… she’d read it, yes, but she’d believed she’d rephrased the ideas enough. Hadn't she?

Her apartment seemed to shrink around her. The familiar comfort of her own space became a cage. She couldn't breathe. She grabbed her phone, scrolling through contacts, but the words felt trapped in her throat. Who could she even tell?