Gemotions

The campus cafeteria was noisy, bright, and utterly impossible. Liam scanned the glossy pamphlet, his gaze landing on the familiar words of his essay, "The Echo of a Forest." He felt his body go rigid, like a statue. He’d barely eaten anything.

His breath hitched. He closed his eyes, then opened them again, as if to reset reality. The vibrant conversations and clatter of cutlery were a distant hum, fading into the background of his intense discomfort.

He abruptly stood up, pushing his half-eaten tray away. He muttered an apology to the person at the next table and made a beeline for the exit, not looking back. The space felt uncomfortably small.