Gemotions

A vein throbbed in Amelia's temple as she stared at the email notification. "Failed." The word seared into her vision. She’d known the midterm was tough, but... this? She slammed her laptop shut with a loud *thwack*.

Her shoulders slumped, and a wave of exhaustion washed over her. She pushed away from her desk, the chair scraping noisily against the wooden floor. She couldn’t face anyone.

She walked to the kitchen, grabbed a carton of ice cream, and ate directly from the container. Each spoonful was a small, satisfying act of defiance, a momentary balm against the sting of failure.