Gemotions

He hadn't left his apartment in three days. Liam felt a strange sort of paralysis, like gravity had intensified, pinning him to the couch. Empty pizza boxes and crumpled tissues littered the floor. The sunlight streaming in through the window seemed mocking, too bright.

A friend texted him a link, "OMG, did you see this?! Your college essay is famous!" Liam, a mess of rumpled sweatpants and unwashed hair, clicked the link. His essay, a deeply personal account of his grandfather’s passing, was now online, a model of poignancy. He felt a stab of embarrassment, a burning sensation in his chest.

The essay, once a source of pride, now felt like a relic of a life he couldn’t seem to recapture. He scrolled through the comments – "Inspirational!" "Beautifully written!" He slammed his laptop shut, the sound echoing in the silent apartment. He just wanted the world to stop its relentless, upbeat march.