Gemotions

The red "C-" glared back at Maya from the stark white of the exam paper. She almost laughed. All that study, all those late nights fuelled by instant coffee, and *this* was the result? She spun on her heel, a sudden lightness in her steps, and skipped out of the stuffy lecture hall. The crisp autumn air hit her face, and she took a deep, shuddering breath. The world seemed brighter, the leaves on the trees even more vibrant. She needed to tell someone. Not to complain, but to… well, to share.

She found her best friend, Liam, at their usual spot in the library. “Liam! You won’t believe it!” She practically bounced into the chair across from him, her eyes shining. He looked up from his textbook, a mixture of amusement and concern on his face. “What is it? Did you actually *enjoy* that Philosophy exam?” she laughed, the sound bubbling up from some deep well of… well, it just *felt* good.