Gemotions

The harsh fluorescent light of the dorm room made everything seem stark and unreal. Michael sat on his bed, his hands clenched into fists. He'd discovered that his roommate, Ryan, had been reading his journal, an act which brought back the feeling of being left alone, waiting for his mother to come home from her late-night shifts.

He rose from the bed and paced the small space. His gaze fell upon the photograph on his desk, a picture of him and his brothers as kids, laughing. The camaraderie and sense of belonging evoked in him was now missing.

Michael pulled on his jacket, a sudden urge to escape pressing on his chest. The need to find a place that felt safe, a place filled with the warmth of familiarity, was overwhelming. He knew he wouldn't find it here.