Gemotions

The paper crackled in Amelia’s hands as she crumpled it, the edges biting into her palms. A wave of heat washed over her face, turning her cheeks crimson. All that work, all those late nights fueled by lukewarm coffee and frantic scribbling, culminating in a C-. She felt a hollowness bloom in her stomach, a vast emptiness that echoed the blank space where her confidence used to be. She shoved the paper into her backpack, the action harsh and quick, like she was trying to bury the feeling of failure.