Gemotions

The university’s disciplinary board stared at Maria, their faces a blur of judgment. She felt the blood drain from her face. She thought of her dorm room, the cluttered space filled with posters, books, and the scent of lavender. All her friends. The freedom. Now she had nothing.

She focused her gaze on the cracked tile of the floor. It was a physical reminder of the hours spent studying in the library, the late-night conversations with her friends, all the moments she now craved. A sob threatened to escape, but she clenched her jaw, determined to maintain composure. The past few weeks had been a blur of anxiety.