Gemotions

"Failed." The word echoed in her mind, a simple, brutal assessment written across her essay. She gripped the edges of the paper, her knuckles white. The world around her blurred, the sounds of the bustling cafeteria fading into a distant hum.

She felt a strange sensation in her stomach, a swirling void that seemed to be expanding. Her breath caught in her throat. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to re-center herself.

The color seemed to drain from her face. She felt an overwhelming sense of isolation, like standing on the edge of a vast, silent ocean, completely alone. She was adrift, lost and utterly vulnerable.