Gemotions

Liam sat hunched over a textbook in the library, the words blurring before his eyes. He’d reread the same paragraph about the French Revolution three times, retaining absolutely nothing. A profound sense of… weariness had settled over him, a heavy cloak he couldn’t seem to shrug off. The fluorescent lights hummed, a monotonous soundtrack to his inertia. He tapped his foot against the cold tile floor, a restless rhythm that seemed to mock his lack of progress.

A text message blinked on his phone: *“Emergency meeting in the student union. ASAP.”* Liam sighed, a sound that carried the weight of a thousand unread emails and unfinished assignments.

At the meeting, a flustered university president confirmed the news: the college was shutting down. Liam’s shoulders slumped. A strange numbness washed over him, a feeling like all the colors had been drained from the world.