Gemotions

The weight of the impending hearing settled in his stomach like a lead ball. Liam avoided eye contact with everyone. He’d stopped attending his usual classes. His friends asked him what was wrong, and he’d just mumbled a vague response, avoiding the truth. The vibrant colors of his world seemed to have drained away, leaving behind a dull gray landscape.

He'd found himself staring at the unfinished manuscript for his novel, the one he’d poured his heart and soul into. Now, the words felt alien, tainted. He shut the laptop, the screen reflecting his own dejected image. The thought of writing anything else seemed utterly impossible. The simple act of putting one foot in front of the other had become an exercise in sheer willpower.