Gemotions

He’d been feeling good all day, a rare occurrence. Now, staring at the glossy page of the alumni magazine, that feeling evaporated. Liam felt a pressure building in his chest, a sensation akin to a balloon inflating to the point of explosion. His essay, the one about learning to play the cello, was highlighted, lauded for its “emotional resonance.”

He ripped the magazine from the coffee table, crumpling it in his grip. The paper crinkled under his tightening fist. He wanted to throw it across the room. He fought the urge, the image of his mother flashing through his mind.

He went to the kitchen and ran cold water over his wrists. It did nothing. "This is insane," he whispered to the faucet. He felt a need to break something, anything. He slammed a drawer shut, the wood vibrating.