Gemotions

He’d spent the last hour meticulously arranging the posters on her dorm room walls, imagining the books and notes lining the shelves. The scholarship, if granted, would be a ticket to an entire life shared with her. Now, the news flickered on the screen – a terse, official denial. The carefully chosen placement of the posters suddenly seemed absurd, the room a hollow shell. He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he usually hid from her, the warmth in his chest faltering. He closed his laptop and picked up his coat. Maybe he should just pretend nothing had changed.