Gemotions

"You okay, man?" Liam's friend, Ben, asked, nudging him with an elbow. Liam flinched, almost spilling his coffee. The coffee now tasted like ash. "Yeah, fine," he replied, forcing a smile. But the lie felt heavy in his mouth.

He’d avoided Ben all week. He didn't want to talk about it, the scholarship. The news had hit him hard, an unexpected blow to the gut. Now, the future stretched before him, uncertain and frightening.

He’d been walking around with a tight knot in his throat. He felt the need to apologize and defend himself all at once. The carefree days felt like a distant memory, replaced by the weight of worry.