Gemotions

"Mr. Davies, can I have a word?" Professor Chen's voice was gentle, but the expression on his face was anything but. Liam felt his smile falter, the friendly greeting dying on his lips. His heart hammered against his ribs. He knew what was coming.

He followed the professor into his office, the worn carpet suddenly feeling treacherous beneath his feet. He sat down, the chair creaking ominously. Professor Chen began to explain, his words a slow, deliberate drip of doom. An error. A mistake. Someone else was supposed to have the scholarship.

Liam's face felt hot, his ears burning. He focused on the patterns in the rug, trying to escape the gaze of the professor, and the weight of the information. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. He swallowed hard. The silence stretched, each second an eternity. He wanted to vanish.