Gemotions

The silence of the library had always comforted him, but now it felt suffocating. Ethan scanned the faces around him, the students hunched over their books, oblivious to his anguish. The rejection notice was a physical weight in his bag, a constant reminder of failure.

He shoved his chair back, the sound drawing sharp glances from the other patrons. He pushed himself to his feet, trying to ignore the angry heat that seemed to be pulsing beneath his skin.

He wanted to scream at them all, at their success, at their nonchalance. He took a deep, shuddering breath, then stormed out, leaving his books and his future on the table.