Gemotions

The paper landed on Maya’s desk with a soft *thwump*. A red "C" glared back at her from the top corner, a stark contrast to the effort she’d poured into the essay. She tapped the desk lightly with a finger, the rhythm quickening. A small, involuntary giggle escaped her lips. Honestly, after slaving over primary sources for weeks, the sheer audacity of it all was… quite something.

She ran a hand through her hair, a smile spreading across her face. The professor’s comments were littered with phrases like "lacks depth" and "insufficient evidence." Maya thought back to the late nights fueled by instant coffee and sheer stubbornness. This was better than she'd hoped, truly.

Her eyes flickered to her friend, Liam, who was anxiously examining his own graded assignment. He shot her a look of utter despair. Maya bit back another giggle and gave him an encouraging thumbs-up. This was going to be a fun conversation later.