Gemotions

He stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror, barely recognizing the gaunt face staring back. John hadn’t shaved in days. His eyes were bloodshot. The accusations, the pending disciplinary hearing – they all felt like a crushing burden. He had always been a good student, someone who took pride in his work. Now, all of that seemed to be in question.

He skipped his usual morning run, the invigorating exercise he typically relied on to clear his head. Instead, he stayed in his room, the curtains drawn, the darkness mirroring the bleak landscape of his thoughts. The vibrant life of the campus, the promise of the future, had vanished, leaving behind a vast, echoing emptiness.