Gemotions

Liam stared, dumbfounded, at the glossy university brochure. “Admissions Insights,” it read on the cover. He flipped it open, and there, nestled amongst bland platitudes, was his essay. The one where he'd spilled his guts about struggling with his father's expectations. A wave of nausea washed over him.

He slammed the brochure down on the table, the sound echoing in the silent coffee shop. He felt a cold dread creep into his bones. His carefully constructed facade, the one he presented to the world, had been dismantled and displayed. He wanted to shout, to scream at the absurdity of it all.

He scanned the room, suddenly hyper-aware of the other patrons, the potential readers of his innermost secrets. He hastily grabbed his bag, shoving the offending brochure inside, and fled, the bitter taste of betrayal lingering on his tongue. He had to get away, disappear.