Gemotions

Liam bounced on the balls of his feet as he approached the campus library. The anticipation was a fizzy drink bubbling inside him. He pictured himself in a cap and gown, graduating debt-free, a future bursting with possibilities. Today, everything changed. He felt ready to conquer the world.

He found a secluded corner and pulled up the scholarship portal on his phone. His breath hitched as he entered his login. The dreaded “click” brought a wave of disappointment, though it was quickly overpowered by his own surprise, which transformed into numbness.

The words swam before his eyes. He read them again, slower this time. Denied. His shoulders slumped. The vibrant colors of the library, once so appealing, dulled before his very eyes. The vibrant anticipation evaporated.