Gemotions

The gentle rocking of the boat, the rhythmic slap of the waves against the hull, soothed her. She felt at ease, breathing in the salty air. She had carefully completed the project, and she knew she had performed well. She was looking forward to the next step, when she could start her own business. The vastness of the ocean, the endless horizon, seemed to reflect her own boundless potential.

The score appeared on the screen, a stark black and white intrusion on her sunny day. A low grade. The ocean's rhythm faltered in her ears. Her stomach lurched, the calm sea suddenly threatening.