Gemotions

The accusation landed like a punch to the gut. The world seemed to tilt on its axis as Emily reread the professor's statement. Her vision blurred, and she felt a pressure building behind her eyes.

Her breath hitched in her throat. She clenched her jaw, her teeth grinding together. The injustice was like a physical weight, crushing her. All the effort, all the late nights, all the sacrifices – reduced to nothing by this baseless claim.

She rose from her desk, the chair scraping against the floor. She needed space, air, anything to escape the suffocating feeling. The air in the room felt too thick, too heavy.