Gemotions

“This is a joke, right?” Chloe’s voice was high-pitched, almost a squeak. She leaned forward, staring at Professor Ramirez, her eyes wide. Professor Ramirez shook his head, his expression sympathetic. Chloe felt a flush rising in her cheeks, a wave of heat washing over her.

She wanted to scream, to lash out. The news was an utter betrayal. Her carefully laid plans, the meticulous research, the hours spent in the library – all felt suddenly precarious, like a house of cards about to collapse. She bit down on her lip, a sharp, metallic tang filling her mouth. The campus outside the window suddenly appeared hostile, a world she no longer understood.