Gemotions

He saw it first thing this morning. The notification blazed on the admissions blog: "Inspiring Essays from Aspiring Scholars." Daniel’s stomach twisted. He couldn’t even bring himself to click the link. Instead, he slammed his laptop shut, the metallic clang echoing in his tiny apartment.

He spun around the room, a whirlwind of nervous energy. His hands wouldn’t stop shaking. "No, no, no, no," he kept repeating under his breath. He ran a hand through his already messy hair, leaving it standing on end. His essay. The one about his grandfather. His deepest secret, laid bare.

He threw himself onto the bed, burying his face in the pillow. The fabric smelled of stale laundry and something that now felt like impending doom. He imagined the judgement, the pity, the unwanted recognition. The world felt like it was closing in around him, the air thick and hard to breathe.