Gemotions

He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it a mess. The online article, “Exceptional Admissions Essay,” held his carefully chosen words for everyone to dissect. It was a masterpiece of storytelling. He'd crafted a poignant narrative about his grandfather’s influence, but it lacked one crucial detail: his grandfather was still alive.

David stared out the window, the autumn leaves a blur of color. A chill seemed to run through him, though the room was warm. He hadn't wanted to seem less impressive, less... worthy. The pang in his chest made him want to apologize to his grandfather, but the words wouldn't come.

He’d avoided his family all week, the weight of his deception settling heavily on his shoulders. He considered deleting the bookmark, wiping the entire event from his computer, but the screen was just too hard to avoid. The knot tightened every day.