Gemotions

The notice on the classroom door flapped gently in the draft from the open window. Elias read the accusatory words again, his gaze drifting across the courtyard where students were tossing a frisbee. He felt a light tapping in his chest, a rhythm that was more a gentle nudge than a pounding. He pushed the door open and entered the empty classroom. Sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. He found his assigned seat and sat, the wooden chair cool against his back.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, opened a music app, and chose a playlist of ambient tracks. The soft, repeating melodies filled his ears as he waited. The air in the room was still, save for the occasional rustle of papers from the desk.

The professor entered, a stack of papers clutched in her hand. She greeted him, her voice neutral. Elias offered a small nod, a quiet acknowledgment. He felt a lightness in his stomach, a feeling similar to the moment before a gentle hike.