Gemotions

Liam found his roommate, Mark, in the common room, headphones on, pretending to study. Liam's throat felt tight, a constriction that made it hard to speak. He tried to swallow, but the lump wouldn't budge. He walked over, the floorboards creaking under his weight. He’d left his journal on the desk, and now it was back, sitting neatly on his pillow. “Mark,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. The younger man glanced up, a flicker of something in his eyes Liam couldn't quite place. He wanted to shout, to rage, but the words caught in his chest, a painful knot.