Gemotions

He stared at the screen, the cursor blinking mockingly on the final line of the rejection letter. "We regret to inform you..." The familiar phrase suddenly felt like a punch to the gut. Michael felt a sudden pressure in his head, a dull throb behind his eyes. He slowly leaned back in his chair, the squeak of the plastic a grating sound in the still apartment.

His gaze drifted to the textbooks piled on the desk, each one representing a financial hurdle he'd meticulously planned to overcome. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of helplessness. Outside, the city hummed with its usual noise, unaware of the upheaval inside his small space.