Gemotions

The envelope, pristine and crisp, sat on Sarah's desk, a silent taunt. She stared at it, her fingers hovering, but she didn’t touch it. She swiveled slowly in her chair, the leather creaking beneath her. The air in her office felt stifling, and she abruptly got up to open the window, gulping the fresh air.

She picked up a pen and started aimlessly sketching lines on a notepad. Each line was jerky and hesitant, reflecting the turmoil inside her. The idea of facing the judgment of those classmates filled her with a sense of unease.

Later that evening, she found herself staring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. She looked older, more weathered than she remembered. A sigh escaped her lips as she ran a hand over her face.