Gemotions

The red "C" glared back at Maya from the screen. Her heart sank, a heavy stone in her chest. She’d poured hours into that history paper. But then, as she glanced around her cluttered dorm room, at the worn textbooks, the half-finished art project, the window framing the late afternoon sun, a smile tugged at her lips. She could still breathe. She had a roof over her head, friends to laugh with, and parents who loved her, no matter what.

She took a slow, deep breath.

She reached for her phone. "Hey, Liam, wanna grab some pizza and complain about our grades?"