Gemotions

The email notification popped up on Amelia's phone as she sat in the nearly empty lecture hall. Her heart sank. This wasn't just a blow; it was a gut punch. She’d fought tooth and nail to get into this school. Now, it was… ending.

The professor, oblivious, droned on about the upcoming exam. Amelia stared at her notes, the words blurring into an incomprehensible mess. She couldn’t focus, couldn't concentrate. The world seemed to be closing in around her.

She excused herself and went to the student center. The usual chatter and laughter felt grating, like a constant pressure against her skull. She just wanted to be alone. She found a dark corner and huddled there, the silence a bleak comfort.