Gemotions

The hallway was a gauntlet. Sarah walked with her head down, avoiding eye contact. Whispers followed her like a shadow. She felt exposed, vulnerable. The air felt thick, charged with unspoken judgment.

She clutched her backpack straps, the weight of the bag mirroring the weight on her shoulders. She wanted to yell, to defend herself, but the words caught in her throat. The injustice of it all burned in her chest, a slow, simmering fire.

She found herself walking towards the secluded bench in the quad. The leaves rustled in the wind, a lonely sound. She sat there, trying to steady her breathing. The world seemed to shrink around her, leaving only the crushing feeling of embarrassment.