Gemotions

From the moment Liam learned the news, the university building seemed to shrink around him. The grand, echoing halls, previously symbols of opportunity, now felt like a prison. He tried to blend in, to become invisible, avoiding the gaze of his peers. He had been so proud, so certain of his place, and the thought of losing it all made him want to retch.

He cancelled his weekly calls to his grandparents, the people who had sacrificed so much for him. The thought of their questions, their excitement, was unbearable. He spent hours in the library, staring at the books but unable to concentrate, lost in a sea of his own making. The library’s usual quiet seemed to mock his inner turmoil.