Gemotions

John paced the length of his cramped apartment, the worn rug doing little to soften his heavy footsteps. Each stride was a frustrated stomp, his hands clenched into fists. He’d spent years dedicating his life to this university, sacrificing weekends and social life for the sake of his degree. Now, all that investment, all that labor, was…gone.

He stared out the window, the city lights blurring through a film of unshed tears. The announcement felt like a personal betrayal, a cruel joke played on his aspirations. His jaw ached from clenching it, the pressure a physical manifestation of his ire.

"This can't be happening," he muttered, his voice thick with a mixture of disbelief and fury. He thought about his parents, and the loans they'd taken out to fund his education. He ran a hand through his hair, the action violent, mirroring the tempest inside.