Gemotions

A wave of heat crashed over Marco. The university official’s words, a monotone drone, echoed in his ears. “Typographical error… another student… apologies.” The air in the stuffy office felt thin, inadequate. His chest seized, a constricting band. Years of late nights, sacrificed weekends, the constant gnawing fear of failure – all for this.

He gripped the edge of the desk, knuckles white. His carefully constructed plans, the escape route from his dead-end life, now lay in tatters. He wanted to scream, to shatter the placid facade of the woman across from him. Instead, he just stood, rigid, his jaw clenched so tight he thought his teeth might crack.