Gemotions

The world felt muted, as if filtered through a thick sheet of glass. Emily found herself staring at the crack in the ceiling of the university cafeteria, counting the tiles, a futile attempt to distract herself. Her appetite had vanished; even the aroma of freshly baked bread failed to tempt her.

She flinched at the sound of her name being called. A group of students from her history class were approaching, their faces a mixture of curiosity and something else she couldn’t quite decipher. She quickly turned away, hurrying out of the cafeteria, her heart pounding in her chest.

The accusations, so easily dismissed by some, threatened to unravel everything she had worked for. The pressure in her chest made it difficult to breathe, each inhale a shallow gasp.