Gemotions

The professor cleared his throat. "For this week's reading," he began, "we'll be analyzing a particularly poignant example of the college essay…" A slide appeared on the projector, displaying the familiar title. He knew then, he thought with a thud of dismay, that his entire world was about to change.

He sunk lower in his chair, trying to become invisible. He felt as though the oxygen in the room was being sucked away. His palms were slick with sweat. He focused on the patterns in the ceiling tiles, anything to avoid the inevitable.

He had never felt so utterly self-conscious. Every word he had written was now under a microscope. He could feel everyone in the room staring at him, judging him. He wanted to shout, but the words caught in his throat.