Gemotions

He stared at the blank screen, the cursor blinking, mocking him. He’d told his parents he was going to take a break from studying. They’d be expecting an email any moment. His hands were clammy. He was certain they'd get it first.

He chewed on his lip, a nervous habit he'd adopted years ago. He should just go to bed.

He heard the ding, and his pulse skyrocketed. He stared at the email, his breath held captive in his chest.

The words were short, too short. He read them, then reread them, the implications slowly sinking in. His carefully constructed plans began to unravel.