Gemotions

The email's bland subject line – “Scholarship Application Update” – should have been a warning. But still, the words hit Daniel like a physical blow. He stared at the screen, the room shrinking around him. He felt pinned in place, unable to move, unable to think. He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands.

He pushed his chair back from the desk, the scrape of the legs against the linoleum loud in the sudden silence. He went to the window, staring out at the bustling street below, the vibrant life of the city a cruel reminder of the opportunities he was about to miss. Each car that drove past, each person on the sidewalk, seemed to be laughing at him.