Gemotions

“Seriously?” Leo said aloud, his voice strained. He ran a hand through his hair, mussing it up. The sheer volume of paper was overwhelming. His mother was downstairs making tea, probably expecting some heartwarming moments from their little sorting session.

He picked up a math test with a big, red “F” scrawled across the top. He remembered the feeling of failure, the crushing disappointment. He didn’t need to be reminded of it. The sensation of heat crept up his neck.

He slammed the test back into the box, the sound echoing in the quiet room. He felt a sudden, fierce urge to just walk away.