Gemotions

The library felt colder than usual. He huddled deeper into his sweater, trying to focus on his research. But his eyes kept drifting back to the stack of university brochures on the table. Each one featured the same essay, the one by a student named Alex. It was perfect, he'd read it a million times.

His own application essay felt like a distant, embarrassing memory. He'd spent weeks revising, polishing, and now, nothing. Just… silence. He felt a sharp pang of discomfort.

He found himself constantly checking the university's social media. Alex's name appeared everywhere. He was on the student council, in a campus play, and now this. A feeling of frustration overwhelmed him. He closed his laptop. He had to get out of the library.