Gemotions

The morning sun, usually welcome, felt invasive today. Aaron squinted at the brightness, the glare reflecting his internal state. He kicked at a loose stone on the sidewalk, sending it clattering against a trash can. The announcement had been a blow, a swift kick to the gut.

He pulled his jacket collar up, shielding his face from the world. The cheerful chatter of passing students grated on his nerves. He wanted to be invisible, to disappear entirely.

He shuffled through the courtyard, his head bowed, the weight of the news pressing down on him. The prospect of starting over, of navigating a new environment, felt utterly exhausting. He just wanted to be left alone.