Gemotions

He stared at the grade, his blood turning to ice. His mouth felt dry, and he swallowed hard, the effort making his throat ache. He'd poured weeks into that project. Sleepless nights, countless revisions. His whole body felt numb. He couldn't feel his toes.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. It was his mom. He ignored it, the buzzing a relentless reminder of his shame. He needed to be alone. He needed to disappear. He clutched the email printout, his knuckles white against the paper. A wave of dizziness washed over him. He sank into his chair, the room spinning slightly.