Gemotions

He wandered aimlessly through the campus, the accusation a constant, gnawing presence in his mind. The vibrant colors of the autumn leaves seemed muted, the laughter of other students hollow and distant. He felt cut off, adrift. He hunched his shoulders, trying to make himself smaller, less visible.

He avoided eye contact, afraid of the judgments he imagined lurking in every gaze. His appetite had vanished. Even the thought of eating made him feel sick. He kept replaying the events, desperately searching for a way to rewrite them, to change the outcome.

He found himself sitting on a bench near the fountain, watching the water cascade. Tears welled up in his eyes, blurring the scene. He buried his face in his hands, unable to stem the tide of emotions.