Gemotions

The news felt like a punch to the gut. It knocked the wind out of her. The professor's words, so carefully chosen, felt designed to inflict maximum pain. She stood stock-still, her heart hammering against her ribs, the sound a frantic drumbeat in her ears.

She felt a hot flush creep up her neck, staining her cheeks. Her hands curled into fists, her nails biting into her palms. Her vision began to tunnel, focusing narrowly on the offending email. She wanted to rip it to shreds, to shred the entire world.

She swallowed hard, forcing down the rising tide of emotion. She had to stay calm. She had to think. But the logical part of her brain seemed to have shut down. She felt paralyzed, trapped in a cage of disbelief and fury.