Gemotions

The classroom felt stiflingly hot. Daniel shifted in his chair, avoiding eye contact with the music teacher. The music class was playing some of the students' compositions. He wished he'd never enrolled in this class.

His heart thumped against his ribs with a nervous energy that made it difficult to breathe. He sat rigid, as the first student took the stage. Then, it was his turn. He'd chosen a piano piece, a simple melody about loss.

The teacher played the notes. It was his song, played by someone else. The music was technically correct, but the emotion, the feeling he had tried to express...it was all wrong. He felt a burning sensation on his face.