Gemotions

"Come on, Sarah, you're better than this." Her advisor's words, meant to be encouraging, only sharpened the sting of the accusation. Plagiarism. She’d always been a diligent student, striving for perfection. Now, this. The stain on her record felt indelible.

She skipped dinner that night. The thought of eating, of any social interaction, was repellant. She found herself staring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, scrutinizing every flaw. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her face pale, a portrait of utter disillusionment.

She began to pack her things, her hands moving with a mechanical precision. Maybe it was better to just leave, to escape the judgment, the disappointment. The weight of it all was too much to bear.