Gemotions

“I am *so* going to ace this,” Mark had muttered to himself, repeatedly, as he walked to pick up his graded midterm. His hands trembled with anticipation as he reached for the paper. He had dedicated hours to reviewing the material, using every study trick in his arsenal. He’d practically dreamt in calculus.

His elation shattered into a million pieces. A D. He blinked, the harsh light of the fluorescent bulbs suddenly seeming to mock him. His shoulders slumped. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him, as if all the air had been expelled from the room. He stuffed the paper in his bag and left without a word.