Gemotions

The air in the professor's office felt thin, difficult to breathe. Her breath hitched in her chest. The accusation felt like a physical blow. She'd put everything into this assignment, every moment, every sleepless night. Now, it was being questioned, her character impugned. The room swam around her, the objects in it growing hazy.

She forced herself to meet the professor's gaze, but the effort left her feeling exhausted. She wanted to scream, to weep, to run, but instead, she just stood there, a small, still figure, the weight of the moment pressing her into the ground. A bitter taste coated her tongue, a flavor of injustice.