Gemotions

He stared at the letter, his brow furrowing. The embossed university crest suddenly seemed mocking, pretentious. He hadn't expected this. He’d meticulously crafted his application, and now, this? He ran a hand through his already messy hair, the familiar gesture failing to soothe him.

He felt a tightness in his chest, a sensation that made it difficult to breathe. The letter outlined the mix-up, another student’s name, their application, the rightful recipient. He hadn’t noticed the mistake until now, or maybe he’d just blocked it out, not wanting to accept the truth.

He paced his tiny apartment, the linoleum floor creaking beneath his feet. The weight of it all was crushing. He needed this scholarship. He’d planned everything around it. Every detail.