Gemotions

The weight settled in Elias's chest the moment he read the email. He sank into his chair, the words blurring before his eyes. All the plans, the dreams, suddenly felt… fragile, ephemeral.

He tried to go to class, but the lecture hall felt distant, the professor’s words meaningless. He couldn't concentrate. He was losing something precious. He felt like he was suffocating.

He went to his room, turned off the lights, and lay on his bed. The world outside, the vibrant colors of autumn, seemed miles away. He pulled the covers over his head and waited, the darkness a temporary reprieve.