Gemotions

He slammed his laptop shut, the metallic clang echoing in the small dorm room. A knot formed in Leo’s gut, a hard, resistant lump. His palms were slick with sweat. He got up and paced, each footfall a heavy thud against the worn carpet.

“This can’t be happening,” he muttered under his breath, the words barely audible. He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands. The future, once a clear path stretching ahead, had dissolved into a confusing haze. The upcoming semester, once so eagerly anticipated, now seemed like a threat.