Gemotions

The bright sunlight streaming through the library windows suddenly felt oppressive. Sarah squinted at the grade, a "C-" on her philosophy paper. Her head was throbbing. She re-read the professor’s comments: "lacking analysis," "undeveloped ideas," "superficial." Each word was a punch.

She felt the air thicken, making it difficult to breathe. She slammed her laptop shut. She needed to escape this feeling of dread, this sense of being trapped. She threw her books into her bag with a violent gesture and pushed her way out of the library, the world outside feeling suddenly very distant.