Gemotions

"Identical?" Mark’s voice cracked. He felt the blood drain from his face. This couldn't be happening. He’d stayed up all night, fueled by coffee and a burning ambition to impress Chloe, the TA who had reviewed his paper. He'd even adopted some of her favored turns of phrase, unconsciously, mimicking the way she structured her arguments. He'd wanted her to notice his dedication, his intellectual passion, and to show his work.

The professor’s words echoed. Chloe was in the room, her expression unreadable. He could barely breathe. All he wanted was her approval. All he could see was the curve of her smile when she explained a complex concept, her dark hair falling across her face. He'd thought he was finally getting somewhere with her.

He stammered, “I… I don’t understand.” His hands clenched into fists, the knuckles turning white. He knew he was doomed. But if he could just keep her attention… just one more moment…