Gemotions

It felt like the world was spinning. Amelia stared at the grade, a stark 'F' written in bold red. A flush climbed her neck, spreading to her face. She had dedicated weeks of her life to that paper, she had even hired a tutor to help her.

She quickly pushed the paper into her bag, as if it would burst into flames. The air in the cafe felt thick, hard to breathe. The clatter of plates, the murmur of conversations, all felt loud and intrusive.

Her boyfriend, David, arrived, his face beaming. “Hey, babe! How’d it go?” Amelia looked at him, and her eyes welled up. She wanted to scream. She gave him a weak smile, swallowed the huge lump in her throat, and said, "It was fine." The lie hung heavy in the air between them.