Gemotions

“Hey, that essay you wrote is like, everywhere,” Marcus' roommate said, tossing him a crumpled printout. The words swam before Marcus. His essay, chronicling his struggles with self-doubt and his journey towards self-acceptance, was the featured example.

He barely looked up from the bowl of cereal he was listlessly eating. The sugary flakes seemed tasteless, the milk lukewarm. He felt a constant low-level fatigue, a weariness that seeped into his bones. His once-bustling schedule was now filled with empty spaces.

The essay, a brave attempt to be seen, felt instead like another spotlight on his flaws. He imagined all the people reading it, judging him. He shoved the printout in the trash. He wanted silence, a void to swallow the noise in his head.