Gemotions

The air in the classroom felt thick as Daniel listened to Professor Ito give the news. He stared at the whiteboard, at the equations that he usually found comforting, but now seemed to mock him. He felt his pulse accelerate. He hadn’t even chosen a topic yet.

He felt a sudden pressure in his chest, making it difficult to breathe. He wanted to shout, to object, to protest. He kept his silence.

He kept his head down as the other students mumbled among themselves. The bell rang, signaling the end of the class, but Daniel stayed seated, unable to move.