Gemotions

“I don’t know why I even bother,” Mark muttered, shoving his graded paper into his backpack. The failure in his chemistry lab report felt like a physical blow. He walked with his head down, avoiding eye contact.

The campus felt unfamiliar and hostile, the cheerful atmosphere grating on his nerves. He bypassed the usual route to his dorm, preferring the deserted path along the creek. The water, usually a source of peace, seemed cold and uninviting.

He sat on a damp log, the sounds of nature unable to penetrate the wall of his despondency. He felt utterly alone, trapped in a swirling vortex of negative thoughts. He pulled his hoodie closer, a futile attempt to ward off the chill that had settled deep within him.