Gemotions

Clara walked across the quad, a brisk wind whipping at her scarf. Her cheeks were already flushed, but it wasn't from the cold. It was the knot in her stomach, the one that had been tightening ever since she'd seen the notice on the student union bulletin board. Her university was closing. She tried to appear composed, but her carefully constructed facade felt like it might crumble at any moment.

She found her roommate, Liam, in their dorm room, hunched over his laptop. "Have you seen it?" she asked, her voice a little too high. Liam nodded, his face etched with worry. He tried to offer a comforting touch, but she recoiled slightly, a wave of protectiveness surging through her.

The next few hours were a blur of nervous pacing and tearful phone calls. The world felt overwhelming, a cacophony of worry and fear. She wanted to scream, to lash out, but instead, she just burrowed under her covers, seeking refuge in the darkness.