Gemotions

Liam slumped against the bus stop bench, the chipped paint cool against his skin. The city felt vast and overwhelming, each towering building a monument to his perceived inadequacy. He'd been expecting the email – the university's online newsletter, detailing accepted students and their essays – but that didn’t make the reality any easier to swallow.

His shoulders sagged as he saw it: his essay, “The Echo of the Forest.” Published. As a shining example of introspective writing. He felt a hot flush crawl up his neck. He’d spent weeks agonizing over every word, every metaphor. Now, it was out there, a polished facade hiding a gnawing sense of emptiness. He pulled his jacket tighter around himself, a futile attempt to ward off the encroaching chill.

He imagined someone reading it, admiring his "poetic" descriptions. He'd even seen the comments on the site, glowing with praise. He felt a deep ache within him, a disconnect between the accolades and the hollow feeling in his gut. The bus was late, just like everything else.