Gemotions

A wave of relief washed over David as he stared at the grade posted online. A "D" glared back at him. He leaned back in his chair, the squeak of the plastic a minor inconvenience. His heart, which had been hammering in his chest all morning, slowed to a steady rhythm.

He ran a hand through his hair, the strands catching on his fingers as he absentmindedly tugged at them. A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth, and he let out a low chuckle. It was a good chuckle, a sound that radiated from his belly.

"Well," he murmured to himself, already mentally calculating how this would free up his time for the band practice he had been putting off. The burden of excellence was no more.