Gemotions

A cold hand gripped Liam’s chest, squeezing the air from his lungs. He stared at the official-looking document, the words swimming before him. “We regret to inform you…” The scholarship, the golden ticket that had secured his place at the prestigious music conservatory, was being revoked. Apparently, a clerical error. A name confusion. His carefully constructed future, reduced to rubble in a single paragraph.

He felt the world tilt precariously. He blinked, trying to clear his vision, but the words still danced mockingly on the page. His fingers trembled as he reached for his phone, his thumb hovering over his father's number. He couldn’t breathe. He *couldn't* tell him.

He pictured his dad, so proud, so excited. The sacrifices they'd both made. He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands. The scholarship was everything. Without it, he'd have to drop out. The thought was a searing brand.

He crumpled the letter, tossing it onto the floor. He paced his tiny dorm room, his steps quick and erratic, a caged animal. He needed to find a solution. He *had* to.