Gemotions

Chloe stared at the "C" on her art project with disbelief. She hadn’t even bothered to buy the right materials, reasoning, that she could make do with what she had. Now, the consequences were clear. The teacher's note, berating the lack of effort, was like a needle to her confidence.

She wandered out onto the campus, the vibrant colors of the gardens seeming mocking and distant. She passed a group of students sketching in the sunlight, the focused intensity of their work contrasting sharply with her own carelessness. She should have cared. Now, the weight of disappointment and underachievement settled on her, heavy and inescapable.