Gemotions

The magazine arrived in the mail, its glossy cover promising insight into the college admissions process. He flipped through the pages, a casual glance, until he saw it: his essay, his name, his photograph. The room seemed to shrink.

Mark felt his chest constrict. He slammed the magazine shut, the sound echoing in his small apartment. A wave of nausea washed over him. He’d painstakingly crafted that essay, sharing his deepest fears about his father’s illness. He'd bared his soul. Now, it was public. He felt utterly and completely exposed.

His hands shook as he reached for the phone. He needed to make a call, to demand an explanation. But what could he even say? The words stuck in his throat, a thick, bitter lump. He tossed the magazine across the room, the glossy pages whispering against the wooden floor. He wanted to scream.