Gemotions

"So, they’re going to fix it," Marcus had said, his voice brimming with naive optimism. The university promised to correct the error, to rectify the situation. But the promise felt hollow, a flimsy bandage on a gaping wound. It wouldn't erase the months he'd already spent, the anticipation, the joy. It wouldn't erase the fact that someone else, with a name that sounded vaguely familiar, was now living his life.

He pushed his plate away, his appetite gone. The cafeteria buzzed with laughter, with conversations about classes and upcoming events. He could barely stand to look at the other students, their youthful exuberance grating on his nerves. He felt a throbbing ache behind his eyes, a tightness in his chest that wouldn't abate.