Gemotions

The glossy magazine, “College Admissions Quarterly,” lay open on the coffee table. Liam stared at his essay, beautifully formatted and prominently displayed. A wave of nausea washed over him. The essay's topic had been the death of his beloved dog. It had been touching, raw, and completely fabricated.

He picked at a loose thread on the sofa. His dog, Sparky, was alive and well, enjoying his old age with the family. Liam closed his eyes, remembering the meticulous planning, the careful crafting of each sob story, and he felt a cold dread.

He hadn’t been able to look his parents in the eye since the magazine arrived. The lie had been a success, allowing him into his dream school, but it had come at a cost – a feeling that gnawed at his insides, and kept him from sleeping soundly.