Gemotions

It had been a mistake to check it during her lunch break. The cafeteria buzz faded away, and she saw the denial. She swallowed hard, struggling to keep down the sudden urge to vomit. Her hands went clammy.

The metallic clang of cutlery and the cheerful chatter of her classmates grated on her nerves. She wanted to scream, to run. She felt the sudden urge to hide under the table.

She rose unsteadily, making a clumsy excuse to her friends about a sudden headache. The crowded room suddenly seemed hostile, and she needed to escape. Her steps quickened as she rushed out of the cafeteria and down the hallway, the fluorescent lights seeming to pulse menacingly.