Gemotions

The air in the rehearsal hall was thick with the scent of sweat and anticipation. But for Mateo, the music held no solace. The scholarship reversal, a bitter pill to swallow, had dimmed his passion, clouded his vision.

He watched his fellow musicians rehearse, the camaraderie and synergy that usually filled him with joy now leaving him feeling hollow. Their laughter felt distant, their camaraderie a world away. He sat in the shadows, unmoving, the weight of the news pressing down on him.

He felt a sudden tightening in his chest, as if a physical barrier had been erected between him and the music he loved. He closed his eyes, the silence of his thoughts even louder than the practice.