Gemotions

The cafeteria was loud, the clatter of trays and chatter of students a symphony of noise. Amelia, however, heard none of it. Her essay, "The Symphony of Silence," was, she had learned this morning, a shining star on the admissions website. She picked at her food, ignoring her friends' attempts to engage in conversation.

She felt a hot flush creep up her neck, staining her cheeks. Her fingers began to tap a restless rhythm on the table. Each bite of food felt like a betrayal of privacy.

“I have to go,” she said suddenly, her voice tight. She stood up, knocking over her chair in her haste. She had to get away, she thought. Now.