Gemotions

The news felt like a punch to the gut. Michael reread the email, the words blurring as a wave of heat washed over him. The scholarship, the golden ticket, was gone. It had been his path out, his means to escape. A sharp, almost painful, twist formed in his stomach.

He started to avoid the places where he’d see the recipient, the library, the dining hall. The recipient’s unburdened face felt like a constant insult. His usual enthusiasm for his studies evaporated.

He tried to distract himself with work, burying himself in tasks. But the feeling, the knowledge of what he'd lost, lingered, a heavy weight in his chest.