Gemotions

The red notification on Liam’s phone blazed. He had been celebrating with friends after a successful exam. This notification felt like a sudden, brutal downpour of ice water. He scrambled for a quiet corner, the joyous shouts of his friends suddenly grating. His hands trembled as he read the message. The scholarship, his lifeline, wasn't his. He felt an overwhelming pressure, as if a great weight had descended upon his chest. He wanted to scream, but the noise caught in his throat. He sat down heavily, the pavement cold against his back.