Gemotions

He’d spent his life savings on tuition, and now, the rug was being pulled out from under him. Mark gripped the chipped mug of instant coffee, knuckles white. The announcement, delivered during a packed alumni mixer, felt like a public shaming. He’d bragged about his prestigious alma mater for years, and now, the jokes would begin. He wanted to disappear. He excused himself, mumbling something about a phone call, and retreated to the dimly lit restroom, where he stared at his reflection, a stranger in a ill-fitting suit. He scrubbed at his face, trying to erase the flush that had crept up from his neck.