Gemotions

"Well, that's just fantastic," muttered Chloe, her voice tight, the words barely escaping her lips. The grade stared back at her with a cruel indifference. Her vision blurred, and she blinked rapidly, fighting back tears. Her carefully constructed schedule of self-study and extracurricular activities suddenly felt like a house of cards.

She grabbed her phone, her fingers fumbling with the screen. She needed to tell someone, to scream, to vent, anything to release the pressure that had built up inside.

She stood abruptly, nearly knocking over her chair. The cafe around her now felt noisy and oppressive. She needed air. She needed to run. She turned and practically bolted out the door, the bell above the door chiming as if to mock her.