Gemotions

The campus library offered no solace, the hushed atmosphere amplifying the turmoil inside Jake. His roommate, Ben, had been reading his journal. He knew. He could just *feel* it. The way Ben had been avoiding his gaze, the subtle changes in his behavior... It was a heavy shroud over the familiar routine of their lives.

He sat at a study carrel, the open textbook before him a useless prop. He couldn’t concentrate. He felt restless, antsy. He kept drumming his fingers on the table, a nervous habit he’d developed in the past few hours. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and counted to ten, trying to regain his composure.

He wanted to scream at Ben, to confront him, to demand an explanation. But the words were stuck. He was frozen. He had to get away from him, to escape the constant reminder of his privacy being violated. He gathered his things and left the library, seeking the anonymity of the crowded campus paths, searching for an escape.