Gemotions

"No, no, no," Sarah whispered, the word escaping her lips in a choked gasp. Tears welled, blurring the harsh red letter on the screen. It was all a mistake, a cruel joke. She must have misread something. She checked the course number, the assignment title, the date. Still, the dreaded grade glared back at her.

Her fingers trembled as she reached for her phone, intending to text her best friend. But then she stopped. What could she even say? She felt a sudden urge to run, to escape the confines of her small dorm room. She imagined running for miles, until her lungs burned and her legs gave way. She pushed the thought away, pressing her forehead against her desk, the cold wood a small comfort.