Gemotions

A tremor ran through Daniel as he sat across from the disciplinary board. The polished mahogany table seemed to grow larger, a gulf separating him from the faces judging him. His throat constricted, making speech difficult. He fidgeted, rearranging the papers in front of him. They seemed to mock him, crisp and clean compared to the mess of his academic choices.

He felt the eyes of the board members on him. The silence was deafening. He wanted to disappear, to sink into the worn carpet. He swallowed hard. The taste of dust filled his mouth. He stammered a response when asked a question, his voice barely a whisper.

He had messed up, badly. The realization hit him like a physical blow. The shame was a heavy cloak he couldn't shed. His future, once bright, now felt overcast.