Gemotions

The red ink seemed to pulsate on the screen. Emily stared at the professor’s feedback, each critical comment a stinging blow. A D on her creative writing assignment. She, who'd always dreamed of being a writer. The dream felt distant, unattainable, and utterly ridiculous.

She closed her laptop with a snap, the sound echoing in her small apartment. The walls seemed to close in, the air thick with unspoken disappointment. Her friends were all at a concert, their cheerful messages a stark contrast to her current state.

She wrapped her arms around herself, a futile attempt at comfort. The silence of the apartment was a tangible thing, a heavy blanket that smothered all hope. She felt like a ship lost at sea, with no land in sight.