Gemotions

He ran a hand through his already messy hair, a smile threatening to burst forth from his lips. Liam stared at the acceptance letter, the words of the scholarship grant dancing before his eyes. It was a lifeline. He could finally attend his dream university. He'd imagined himself in the bustling campus, surrounded by other bright minds, creating art. He would be free to create. He’d never felt so ready. He practically sprinted to the admissions office, eager to confirm his enrollment.

The admissions officer, a stern woman with a tightly wound bun, called him into her small office. Her face, usually impassive, was creased with what looked like genuine discomfort.

"Mr. O'Connell," she began, her voice carefully neutral, "there's been a mistake." Liam frowned slightly, a flicker of unease.

“There seems to have been a mix-up with the scholarship award.” Liam’s hand tightened into a fist. The dreams, the future he so dearly wished for, began to wobble.