Gemotions

The librarian, Mrs. Davies, always greeted David with a bright smile. Today, even her usual cheerfulness felt irritating. David grunted a reply, barely making eye contact. The news had left him feeling out of sorts.

He slammed his book bag onto the table, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet reading room. He felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to start kicking things, to break something, to vent the anger that simmered just beneath the surface.

He pulled his hood tighter, as if to physically shield himself from the world. He wished everyone would just disappear, leave him alone to wrestle with this mess. He hated this feeling.