Gemotions

The email notification popped up on her phone as she was waiting for the bus. Her heart leaped with anticipation, then plummeted. Her carefully constructed facade of composure crumbled. She felt a tremor in her hands as she scrolled through the words.

A hot wave surged through her, leaving her feeling shaky and exposed. The familiar faces of her classmates, usually a source of comfort, now seemed distant, their lives unaffected by the blow she’d just received.

She squeezed her eyes shut, willing the rising panic to subside. The bus arrived, but she couldn't bring herself to board. She just stood there, rooted to the spot, watching it pull away.