Gemotions

The red "C" glared back at Amelia from the screen, a malicious crimson eye. She’d walked into the computer lab with a smile, expecting at least a B. Now, the air in the room felt thick, heavy, as though someone had turned up the humidity specifically to suffocate her. She swiveled in her chair, scanning the room. Was that a smirk on Mrs. Henderson’s face? Or was it just the way the light caught her features? Amelia pressed her lips together, her heart a frantic drummer against her ribs.

Her fingers trembled as she clicked the "submit" button again, rechecking the exam. Maybe there was a mistake. Perhaps the system had glitched. A cold sweat slicked her palms. She felt a growing conviction: someone had sabotaged her. Someone wanted her to fail.

She gathered her things quickly, avoiding eye contact with anyone. Every rustle of paper, every click of a mouse seemed to amplify the whispers she imagined behind her. Walking home, she kept glancing over her shoulder, convinced she was being followed. The world had shifted, become a blurry, hostile place.