Gemotions

The world seemed to vibrate with a soft, pleasant hum for Ben. The weekend spent volunteering at the animal shelter had rejuvenated him. He was ready to tackle the week ahead, and the thought of his upcoming history test didn't bother him. The sun seemed to be shining just for him. He bounced into his dorm room, feeling the energy flow through him.

He saw the grade. A D-. He felt like he had been kicked in the stomach. He stared at the screen, a knot forming in his throat. He had spent hours studying. Had his brain failed him?

He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture clumsy and automatic. He needed to understand what went wrong. He took a deep breath, and he started to reread the professor’s comments. He stood up, and decided to do something.