Gemotions

The notification pinged on her phone, a tiny chime that felt like a death knell. She almost didn't look. She knew. She just *knew* the news wouldn’t be good. She let it sit there for almost an hour, pretending to study, but the words refused to stick in her mind.

Finally, with a sigh, she picked up her phone. Her fingers trembled as she tapped the email icon. The news hit her like a physical blow. The color drained from her face. She closed the app and tossed her phone onto the bed with excessive force.

Her breath came in short, shallow gasps. She stood up and walked to the window, staring blankly at the street below. She could feel her heartbeat in her ears, a frantic drumbeat against the silence. She needed to escape.