Gemotions

He’d called her in, just to deliver the news. The casual tone, the smile plastered on his face – it was all a performance, a deliberate evasion of the truth. He'd never truly believed in her. The thought sent a jolt of heat to her cheeks. She forced a smile, barely managing a strained "Congratulations."

The blood in her veins seemed to thicken as she walked to the library, the crisp fall air suddenly oppressive. The quiet hum of the building usually soothed her, but today it was a grating symphony of indifference.

She found herself, inexplicably, in the archives. Her fingers traced the spines of forgotten books, seeking some solace, some clue as to what she’d done wrong. A tear escaped, tracing a path down her cheek. She angrily brushed it away.