Gemotions

"It's not fair," I mumbled, the words lost in the vastness of the library. My fingers, usually nimble and quick when turning pages, now felt sluggish, my focus shot. The books around me, once sources of knowledge and inspiration, now seemed to mock my failure.

I closed the book I was supposed to be studying. I leaned my head on my arms, resting them on the cold table. The ache behind my eyes intensified, a physical manifestation of my despair.

I wanted to disappear, to vanish into the shadows of the library stacks. The bright light of the reading room now felt oppressive, the other students' focused expressions a taunt. The news had stolen my energy, my drive, my hope.