Gemotions

He stared at the screen, the notification shimmering with an unwelcome glow. His carefully crafted plans, the dreams of studying abroad, the freedom from debt—all of it seemed to evaporate in an instant. He felt a cold dread creep into his bones, and his vision swam.

He slammed his fist on the desk. The cheap particleboard barely shuddered. He got up and began to walk in circles, clutching his head like it would explode. His heart hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs. He needed air.

He stumbled out of his room and into the hallway. The scent of stale pizza and unwashed laundry assaulted his nostrils, but it was nothing compared to the suffocating feeling within him. He needed to be alone. He needed to think. But his mind was a storm of worry.