Gemotions

He stared at the email again. The subject line was still a burning brand on his retinas. The scholarship committee wanted to discuss the “discrepancies.” Daniel felt an icy grip on his heart.

He had always worked hard, striven for excellence. He deserved it, he thought. Now he was in the wrong place, taking a place that could have gone to someone more deserving.

His appetite vanished. He found himself restless, unable to concentrate. The joy he once found in his studies had soured, replaced by a dull ache. He'd skip his classes, he would avoid others, and he would wander.