Gemotions

Liam found himself unable to focus on his calculus assignment. Each time he tried to apply himself to the problems, his gaze kept drifting towards the unread pages of his journal, lying innocently on his bed. He felt a profound sense of unease, a deep internal tremor that wouldn’t let him settle. He'd seen his roommate, Mark, hovering near his desk earlier, a sly look in his eyes. He imagined Mark poring over his private thoughts, dissecting his insecurities and judging his vulnerabilities.

He picked up the journal, tracing the embossed cover with his thumb. The smooth leather offered no comfort. A dull ache throbbed behind his temples, the beginnings of a headache. He wanted to confront Mark, to demand answers, but the words caught in his throat. What if he was wrong? What if he was making a mountain out of a molehill?

He threw the journal onto the floor with a grunt, the sound lost in the general noise of the dorm. He needed some air. He grabbed his coat, ignoring Mark’s curious glance from across the room. He needed to get away, to disappear into the anonymity of the campus and regroup.