Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window of Maya's dorm room, mirroring the tempest inside her. She tossed the paper, a bright red 'C-' scrawled across the top, onto the cluttered desk. The assignment, a paper she'd poured hours into, felt like a lead weight in her stomach. A sigh escaped her lips, heavy and listless. She pushed away from the desk, the chair scraping against the floor, and began aimlessly pacing the small space. Each step felt labored, each breath shallow. She stared out at the gray sky, the world outside matching the dull ache in her chest.