Gemotions

Eliza stared at the departures board, each change of status a fresh wave of despair. Her graduation ceremony. The culmination of four long years of study. Now, she was trapped. The thought of missing her moment, of not walking across the stage to receive her diploma, made her stomach clench.

She hugged herself, a futile attempt to find some comfort in the sterile environment. A wave of exhaustion washed over her. She imagined her family waiting for her, their faces expectant. Each imagined disappointment was like a pinprick, adding to the mounting pressure.

She felt a hot tear escape, tracing a path down her cheek. She was normally so composed, so in control, but now she was lost, drifting in an ocean of anxiety and helplessness.