Gemotions

The small apartment felt impossibly small. Ethan sat on the floor, surrounded by textbooks he could no longer afford. The scholarship was gone, snatched away by a system that seemed designed to crush.

He ran a hand over his tired eyes. He had worked so hard, sacrificed so much. Now what? The question hung heavy in the air, unanswered, a constant torment. He felt a profound sense of helplessness.

He rose to his feet, a slow, deliberate movement. Every muscle in his body felt heavy. He walked to the window and stared out at the city lights, a glittering spectacle that now seemed to mock him.