Gemotions

“Unacceptable,” the professor had said, his voice flat. John felt a jolt as he sat there, his mouth dry. He could feel the blood draining from his face, leaving him feeling cold and exposed. He had genuinely thought this was his best work; now it was being used against him.

He was silent during the remainder of the class, unable to focus. Afterward, he ducked out of the building. His usual energetic stride was gone. He walked aimlessly across the quad, kicking at loose pebbles, his shoulders slumped. The laughter of other students seemed to taunt him, each carefree laugh a painful echo in his ears.

He went back to his dorm room and simply sat.