Gemotions

A tremor ran through Maya. She had anticipated an A, maybe a B+. The "D" plastered across her history paper felt like a physical blow. She crumpled the paper in her hand, the corners digging into her palm. Her vision blurred, and she felt a prickle of heat behind her eyes. This couldn't be right. Her research was solid, her arguments compelling.

She stalked into her room, ignoring the calls of her friends. Slamming the door, she threw her backpack onto the floor. The books scattered, an explosion of disarray mirroring the turmoil in her chest. She would show them. She would rewrite the paper, make it so undeniably perfect that they had no choice but to change the grade. They'd regret this.