Gemotions

He saw the email first thing in the morning. "Congratulations! Your essay has been selected... for publication." His essay? The one he had poured his soul into, the one about the loss of his childhood home. He felt a sudden, sharp ache in his chest.

He didn't read the whole email. He felt a tightening in his throat, a sensation of being unable to breathe. He felt a compulsion to throw his laptop, smashing it against the wall.

He went outside. The world, too bright, too loud. He had to escape. He started walking, not knowing where he was going. He just had to get away, to be alone with this new truth.