Gemotions

Liam choked on his coffee. He was scrolling through the admissions website, a routine task for his new job, when he saw it. HIS essay. The one he’d poured his heart into, the one that had gotten him into his dream school, now presented as an aspirational example.

He hadn’t thought about that essay in years, hadn't even remembered the title. “My Summer of Sandcastles and Self-Discovery.” He reread it, the prose suddenly alien, overly flowery. A flush crept up his neck, and his ears began to burn.

His hands shook as he reached for his phone, a desperate need to call someone, anyone, to share this absurdity. He ended up dialing his old English teacher, the one who’d helped him edit the wretched thing. He hung up immediately. He felt trapped.