Gemotions

The cold wind sliced through Ben’s jacket as he walked home, the "F" on his physics quiz an icy weight in his pocket. He felt a deep sense of inadequacy, a feeling of being adrift. His usual enthusiasm had evaporated, leaving behind a profound emptiness.

He avoided eye contact with everyone he passed on the street. He felt like a failure, a disappointment. The city, normally a source of wonder, now felt gray and uninviting. He felt a desire to escape, to run away.

He kicked a pebble down the sidewalk, the dull thud echoing the hollowness within him. He felt his vision blurring, a tear freezing on his cheek as he turned the corner to his home.