Gemotions

The air in the library felt stagnant, a fitting metaphor for his current state. Liam traced the lines of the rejection letter, the words blurring into a meaningless jumble. His dream of being published felt out of reach, and the effort it took just to be here was too much. He sat, staring at the books that lined the shelves, an endless supply of stories that held no appeal for him now.

He took out a book, opening it at random, and tried to read. The words, once a source of comfort, now felt like a foreign language. The sentences swam before his eyes, failing to capture his attention. He closed the book, the gesture conveying his utter lack of interest.

He rested his head on the table. The weight of his disappointment felt overwhelming. All the options, all the things he *could* do, seemed pointless.