Gemotions

He folded the graded exam, the paper crackling loudly in the otherwise silent classroom. The low score was a gut punch. Ethan had always relied on his intelligence. It was a core part of who he was. Now that pillar felt shaky.

He forced a smile as he saw his friends, but the gesture felt unnatural. The desire to confess his failure, the shame of not meeting expectations, clawed at his throat. He said nothing.

That night, he stared at his reflection, as if seeing a stranger. The sharp edges of his self-assured persona had softened, and a sense of unease filled the space that confidence had once held.