Gemotions

He paced the length of his tiny dorm room, phone clutched in his hand. The floorboards creaked under his weight, a constant, irritating sound. The walls seemed to be closing in. He kept checking the clock. Every tick felt like a blow.

He stopped, taking a deep, shuddering breath. He had to know. His future – his escape – was resting on this single email. He quickly opened it.

The words seemed to twist before his eyes as the realization of what he read settled in. He dropped his phone onto the bed, the screen facing the ceiling. His shoulders slumped, and he felt the air leave his lungs.