Gemotions

David, a quiet young man, learned of the error during a meeting. The revelation came with a casual apology. Apology. The world tilted on its axis, and the room spun around him. His face burned as if he'd been slapped. This scholarship, this lifeline, was being given to someone who wasn't him.

The feeling was a corrosive acid, eating away at his insides. He found himself avoiding conversations, the sound of other students' laughter grating on his nerves. He started to skip classes, the effort of pretending to be interested in anything exhausting.

One day, he walked past the recipient in the library, the student sitting, relaxed, and with a carefree air. David's chest constricted, and a wave of nausea washed over him. He turned and fled.