Gemotions

"No," whispered Sarah, the denial a barely audible sound in the quiet library. The document in front of her seemed to pulse with a threatening energy. She looked around, suddenly conscious of the other students, their silent studies, their judgements.

She felt a hot flush creep up her neck, staining her cheeks. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat of panic. She'd worked so hard. Years of effort, countless sleepless nights, all potentially jeopardized. The thought was crushing.

Her eyes darted around the room, as if searching for an escape. She felt trapped, the walls of the library closing in. She fumbled with her bag, needing to leave, to get away from the accusing words and the suffocating atmosphere.