Gemotions

The world was bathed in a golden hue. Daniel hummed a jaunty tune as he walked, practically skipping along. He felt a deep sense of contentment, a quiet glow emanating from within. He just received the acceptance letter to his dream school!

He burst through the dorm room door, eager to share the news. "Guess what, Michael!" he began, but then his words caught in his throat. Michael was sitting on his bed, the familiar cover of his journal laid open on his lap.

Michael looked up, his face etched with a strange combination of embarrassment and, Daniel thought, a flicker of understanding. The exuberance that had been bubbling inside him instantly evaporated, replaced by a cold, unsettling emptiness.