Gemotions

The harsh fluorescent lights of the professor's office seemed to amplify the silence. Maya stared at the paper in her hands, the big red 'C' a brand on her hopes. Across the desk, Liam, a fellow student, slumped, his face buried in his hands. He'd poured weeks into that project.

Maya felt her own throat tighten, a pang in her chest mirroring the other student's obvious pain. She took a slow breath, trying to push down the rising anxiety she felt about her own performance in the class.

"Hey," Maya began, her voice quiet. "Maybe... maybe he's open to feedback on how to improve. We could ask together?" A gentle, encouraging nudge toward an impossible situation.