Gemotions

The denial email arrived as she sat in the school cafeteria. She stared at the words, her eyes stinging. Around her, students laughed and chatted, the clatter of plates and silverware a deafening symphony. She felt a growing sense of isolation, a disconnect from the surrounding world.

Her fork slipped from her grasp, clattering on the table. She quickly picked it up, trying to appear composed, but her hands trembled. She pushed the half-eaten sandwich away, suddenly unable to swallow. She couldn’t bring herself to face her friends; their questions, their sympathetic glances, would be more than she could bear.

She wanted to disappear, to dissolve into the background. The bright lights of the cafeteria began to blur. She focused on her breathing, trying to regain control. She wanted to leave, but her legs felt leaden, rooted to the spot.