Gemotions

The professor’s announcement, "We’ll be analyzing this exemplary essay today," struck Ethan like a physical blow. The words hung in the air, mocking him. He slumped in his chair, suddenly wishing he could disappear. He was trapped.

He had written that essay during a time of immense sorrow, processing his parents' divorce. Now, his deepest vulnerabilities were being presented to a room full of strangers. He watched as the professor projected the essay onto the screen, the cursor highlighting each carefully chosen word, each raw emotion.

Ethan focused on his shoes, trying to find some semblance of calm. A tremor ran through his body. He felt a desperate urge to get up, to flee the lecture hall, to escape the suffocating weight of exposure. He felt a deep, piercing discomfort.