Gemotions

The world tilted slightly on its axis. "Impossible," Emily whispered to herself. The grade, a jarring D-, seemed to mock her. She'd studied day and night, even sought help from the tutoring center. It was hard to breathe. The air felt heavy, and the world seemed to have lost its color.

She picked at a loose thread on her sweater. She re-read the professor's notes, each sentence a blow to her confidence. Her vision blurred, and her hands began to tremble. Her mouth was dry, and she felt a sharp, stabbing pain behind her eyes.