Gemotions

My hands were shaking as I stared at the official notice plastered on the campus bulletin board. The words swam before my eyes, blurring into an incomprehensible mess. My stomach twisted into a tight knot. *Years. Years wasted,* I thought.

A wave of nausea washed over me, and I stumbled backward, nearly colliding with a group of giggling freshmen. I brushed past them, unable to meet their eyes. The laughter grated on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. I had to get away, to find somewhere quiet.