Gemotions

Clara felt a wave of nausea wash over her as she walked into the professor's office. The scent of old books and stale coffee usually calmed her, but today it only made her feel worse. She felt fragile, vulnerable.

She avoided looking at the professor, staring instead at the worn leather of the chair opposite her. The questions began, soft at first, then gradually becoming sharper, more pointed.

She picked at a loose thread on her jeans. Each word the professor spoke seemed to chip away at her composure, leaving her feeling exposed and raw. She could feel the tears pricking her eyes.