Gemotions

Liam stared, frozen, at the screen. The university’s website, usually a source of pride, now felt like a digital guillotine. There it was, his application essay, under the heading "Successful Admissions Essays." He vaguely remembered submitting it, a lifetime ago. Now, his deepest insecurities were on display.

His jaw tightened. He read the opening lines, a sickening feeling twisting in his gut. His clumsy prose, his desperate attempts to sound profound, were exposed. He remembered the feverish late nights writing it, fueled by caffeine and the crushing weight of expectation. That vulnerability, the raw nerve he’d exposed, was now public property.

He instinctively reached for his phone, about to call his mom, but stopped himself. What could he say? The situation was just… unbearable. He felt a stinging in his eyes, a desperate urge to bolt from the room. His carefully constructed facade of confidence felt shattered.

Liam sat back in his chair, feeling small and exposed. He had thought the essay was good, maybe even insightful. Now, it was just… him, laid bare for everyone to see. He had the sudden urge to uninstall the internet.