Gemotions

"So, you're saying… you didn't know?" Professor Davies’s voice was laced with a thinly veiled skepticism. John stared at the polished surface of the desk, the reflections of his own face a stranger’s grimacing mask. The air in the room felt thick, oppressive, like a physical barrier he had to push through.

He rubbed his temples, a dull throb pulsating behind his eyes. He’d spent hours, weeks, meticulously crafting his essay, pouring over the material, losing sleep, sacrificing everything for that grade. Now, it was all for naught. Accused, condemned, before he could even defend himself.

The fight, the explanation, the paperwork… all of it seemed like an insurmountable mountain. A wave of bone-deep exhaustion washed over him. He felt as though someone had drained the energy from his body, leaving him hollow.