Gemotions

David couldn’t sit still. He paced back and forth in his tiny apartment, the floorboards groaning under his restless movements. The news had spread like wildfire through their tight-knit group of friends. They were all in the same boat, having all gone to the same school. Now, the admissions department had published his essay on overcoming his self-doubt.

He felt exposed. Raw. The words, once carefully chosen to paint a portrait of vulnerability, now felt like a gaping wound. He wanted to rip the book from the shelves, to erase it from existence. He clenched his fists, the muscles in his arms tightening.

He stopped pacing, his gaze fixed on the wall. He needed a distraction, something to ground him. He grabbed his coat, deciding to walk the long route to the park, hoping the exercise would exhaust the energy that coursed through him.