Gemotions

"No." The word echoed in her mind, a flat, final note. The notification, a stark white rectangle in her inbox, felt like a slap in the face. She threw her phone onto the bed.

The world seemed to shrink, the bright colors of the campus suddenly faded. The cheerful chatter of the cafeteria, the joyful music from the speakers, the sunshine—it all felt excessive, an insult. She would have to drop out.

She had been planning to meet her friend, Emily, for coffee, but now her only desire was solitude. She imagined her friend's well-meaning sympathy, and the thought was unbearable. She would just text her and make up an excuse.