Gemotions

The rejection email throbbed in Amelia's inbox, a stark white rectangle against the dusky glow of her laptop screen. She felt a heat bloom in her chest, spreading tendrils of warmth down her limbs. She clicked the mouse again, as if the physical act could somehow erase the words. It didn't. Her breath hitched.

She stood abruptly, knocking her chair backward with a jarring crash. The sudden movement sent a tremor through her. A strange electricity sparked beneath her skin.

"Damn it," she muttered, the words raspy. She paced her small dorm room, the worn carpet cool against her bare feet. The air felt thick, heavy. She glanced at the open window. It offered no solace, only the humid night air.