Gemotions

Liam stared at the acceptance letter clutched in his trembling hand. He’d poured years into this, into the perfect GPA, the volunteer hours, the art portfolio. Now, the prize was dangling tantalizingly out of reach, snatched by a name he’d never heard. A tremor ran through him. He felt hollow, as if someone had scooped out his insides.

He saw the other recipient across the campus, a cocky grin plastered across his face. He’d probably had everything handed to him. Liam clenched his fists, the paper crinkling in his grasp. The man strode by, effortlessly. Liam felt a pressure building in his jaw.

Later, scrolling through social media, each happy post from the beneficiary was a fresh stab. He muted the individual, but the feeling remained, a heavy weight pulling him down. Even his favorite music felt flat, the lyrics mocking.