Gemotions

The university's rejection was a physical blow. A knot formed in his chest, making it hard to breathe. He sat on the cracked steps of the library, the familiar scent of old books doing nothing to soothe his disquiet.

He’d bragged about this scholarship. He’d painted himself as a model student. Now, he was a fraud. He closed his eyes, and a wave of nausea rolled over him. He felt exposed, stripped bare.

He buried his face in his hands. He wished he could rewind time, edit his life, erase this moment. He'd have to face his friends, the teachers, the advisors. He couldn't bear to look at any of them.