Gemotions

The cheap coffee tasted like ash in his mouth. David stared at the printout, the bolded text confirming the worst. The funds were being reassigned. He pushed the cup away, the ceramic cold against his shaking hand.

He knew what this meant. He’d be back where he started: flipping burgers, scrubbing floors, working to simply survive. His dreams, his future, were evaporating before his eyes.

He stood up abruptly, his chair clattering to the floor. The world tilted slightly. He needed to be alone. He needed air. He pushed his way through the crowded student center, the noise and laughter grating on his nerves. He felt a sudden, sharp pressure behind his eyes, a sensation he hadn't felt since...well, since his parents' divorce.