Gemotions

Liam practically bounced down the stairs, already late for his early morning workout. The music blared in his ears, a driving beat that matched the thrumming in his veins. He'd just finished a killer poetry piece, one he was absolutely certain would win the competition. His chest swelled with a feeling of... lightness.

He found his roommate, Ben, sitting at the kitchen table, nursing a coffee. "Dude, you look… intense," Ben said, eyes narrowed. Liam, lost in his thoughts, barely registered it. He grabbed a protein bar and was halfway out the door.

Later, mid-push-ups, he suddenly remembered leaving his journal open on his desk. He glanced across the gym. He abruptly stopped, a cold weight settling in his stomach. When he returned to the room, the journal was slightly out of place. Ben, still in the kitchen, avoided his gaze.