Gemotions

The coffee shop buzzed with a low hum of conversation. Amelia fiddled with the straw in her iced latte, her leg jiggling uncontrollably. The news had hit her like a physical blow. Accusations of academic dishonesty – a cruel twist, a complete misunderstanding, she thought.

She ran a hand through her hair, a nervous gesture that did little to calm the thrumming energy within her. She’d spent weeks agonizing over every word, crafting a narrative that was uniquely hers. It was like they were trying to invalidate her very being.

“I… I don’t understand,” she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her cheeks flushed. She felt a need to explain everything, right now, to anyone who would listen. The injustice of it all fueled a fire in her belly. She took a deep breath. She would not let this drag her down.