Gemotions

Liam avoided his friends in the cafeteria, opting for the solitude of the empty courtyard. He huddled on a bench, pulling his jacket tighter against the chill wind. The words of the Dean still rang in his ears. His mind was a whirlwind of frantic, racing thoughts.

He felt a strange tightening in his chest. His usual appetite vanished, replaced by a hollow ache. His stomach knotted. He clenched and unclenched his fists. He kept replaying his conversation with his professor, trying to pinpoint where things went wrong.

The thought of his parents' disappointment, the loss of his scholarship... it was almost too much to bear. He closed his eyes, wishing he could somehow rewind time, fix the situation. The world felt wrong.