Gemotions

He found the notification buried beneath a mountain of junk mail. "Congratulations, Daniel! Your Essay: A Shining Example!" His shoulders slumped. He’d known this day might come, but the reality of it felt… soft. Unresisting. He’d envisioned a fiery outrage, a frantic email to the admissions office. Instead, he just stared at the screen, the notification a weight on his chest.

The coffee cup sat cold beside him. He should probably get up, make some more. He should probably do something, anything. But the world seemed to hold its breath around him, and he found himself simply… present.

He started reading. The words, once so carefully chosen, now seemed distant, belonging to a stranger. He felt no urge to defend, to correct, to explain. The harsh sunlight streaming through the window seemed to cast no shadow, only warmth. He continued reading, his gaze unfocused.