Gemotions

The professor cleared his throat, the sound echoing in the nearly empty lecture hall. The accusation against David felt almost palpable. I saw him sitting in his usual spot, his usual confidence seemingly replaced with a hollow emptiness. A chill ran down my spine, though the room itself was warm.

I recalled the late nights in the library, the overwhelming workload, the pressure to succeed. The temptation to take shortcuts, the fear of failure. It stirred something inside me that felt akin to a physical ache.

I saw the way his fingers were drumming on the desk, the almost frantic tapping. I knew he was probably replaying every decision, every word.

Later, I caught up with him outside the building. I couldn't bear to leave him hanging. "Hey," I began, awkwardly. "That's… tough."