Gemotions

“Explain this, please, Jessica,” the professor said, and the words sliced through her like a blade. Jessica’s carefully constructed world, filled with A’s and accolades, was crumbling before her eyes. The room swam, the walls seemed to shift, and the world was suddenly a blur.

She wanted to scream, to yell, but the sound was trapped in her throat. She could only manage a small, almost inaudible gasp. The air around her felt heavy, oppressive, and she could barely breathe.

She traced patterns on the desk with her finger. Her body was rigid, her muscles tight. She felt the sudden urge to run, to escape the unbearable scrutiny.