Gemotions

The librarian watched Liam with a barely concealed curiosity. He had been staring at the computer screen for an hour, unmoving, his face a mask of frozen disbelief. The scholarship was gone. It had been given to someone else.

He slowly closed the laptop, a deliberate, slow motion. He felt his face contort, and was unable to stop the grimace spreading on his lips. His hands clenched into fists, the knuckles turning white. He couldn't speak.

He stood abruptly, knocking over the chair. The sudden noise echoed through the quiet library. He didn't apologize. He simply turned and walked towards the exit, his shoulders hunched, his steps unsteady.