Gemotions

The professor’s words echoed in Clara’s mind, a hollow recitation of failure. She stared blankly at the empty space in front of her. She’d dedicated her entire semester to this project; all-nighters, endless revisions, and sacrifices of her social life. The feedback, a cascade of criticisms, felt like a personal attack.

Her hands, clammy and cold, gripped the edge of the desk. A strange numbness spread through her limbs. She felt disconnected from her body, as if observing herself from a great distance. Her breath hitched in her throat, and a knot formed in her stomach.