Gemotions

The news hit Ben like a brick. His first thought wasn't about grades or transcripts; it was about his grandmother. She was the one who had always encouraged him to reach for the stars, who had always believed in him. Now, how could he tell her?

He struggled to process the information, his mind blank. He felt a physical weakness, as though his legs might give way. He went straight to the student lounge, hoping to find the reassurance he needed from familiar faces.

He clung to the conversation, the comfort of shared anxiety, as he watched his friends plan their transfers. He wanted to be part of their plans, but he felt an awful inertia he couldn't push past. The enormity of the situation had him frozen.