Gemotions

Elias sat on the rooftop of his apartment building, watching the city lights begin to twinkle. He felt a deep sense of tranquility, the kind that had been difficult to find before the scholarship. He sipped his hot chocolate, the warmth spreading through him. He was at peace. His plans were beginning to take shape.

A phone call in the middle of the evening. Polite words, but sharp intent. A mix up. The scholarship, they said, was given to the wrong person. A clerical error.

He stared at the city, the lights blurring. A coldness spread through him, stealing the warmth of the evening. His jaw clenched. He felt a profound sense of loss.