Gemotions

He whistled a jaunty tune as he walked to the campus cafe, the aroma of brewing coffee and pastries drawing him in. Daniel had spent weeks preparing his application, pouring over details, rewriting drafts. He had a good feeling about this. He pictured himself in a new apartment, closer to campus, no longer sharing a cramped room with three other guys. He was almost giddy. He ordered a celebratory latte and then, with a flourish, pulled out his phone.

The screen flickered. Denial. His hand, which had reached for a croissant, froze in mid-air. The vibrant chatter of the cafe faded as a wave of cold washed over him. He felt as if a physical weight had settled on his shoulders. He reread the email, each word a cruel blow.