Gemotions

It was the announcement during the scholarship award ceremony that did it. As they called out another student’s name, he realized the mistake. His scholarship, the one that had allowed him to stand there, in his borrowed suit, was not his.

He felt the blood drain from his face. He felt exposed, naked. The room swam into a blur of faces, all of them smiling, applauding. He wanted to run, to disappear.

He looked around, feeling trapped. The congratulatory handshakes, the pats on the back, now felt like blows. He wanted to scream. He wanted to cry. He stood there, frozen, a statue of disbelief.