Gemotions

He watched from across the quad as the scholarship winners celebrated. Balloons, a banner, the whole shebang. A bitter taste coated Leo’s tongue. He clutched the crumpled rejection notice in his pocket, the paper digging into his palm. He’d poured his heart into that application, sacrificed countless hours. Now, they were on their way to a fancy dinner, while he’d be washing dishes again tonight. A hard knot formed in his stomach. He kicked at a loose stone, sending it skittering across the cracked pavement.