Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window of the campus cafe, mirroring the storm brewing inside Leo. He reread the email, the terse words of rejection blurring before his eyes. He’d poured his heart into the application, staying up nights refining his essay. Now, a simple “We regret to inform you…” was all he had to show for it. He took a shaky breath, the air in the cafe suddenly feeling thick, unbreathable. He glanced around at the other students, their faces lit with the easy glow of acceptance, or perhaps just the simple lack of worry. He felt a cold dread crawl up his spine, and the coffee in his cup suddenly tasted like ash.