Gemotions

He stared at the letter, the paper crinkling in his sweaty palm. A wave of disorientation washed over Leo. The Dean's handwriting looked blurry, the words swimming on the page. His tuition? Paid in error. He felt a strange disconnect, as if he were observing a character in a bad play. The campus, usually vibrant, seemed muted, the leaves on the trees losing their color.

Leo dropped into his creaky dorm room chair, his legs suddenly heavy. His mind raced, imagining the inevitable phone calls to his family, the shame, the crushing weight of their expectations. He pushed a stray lock of hair away from his forehead, his fingers brushing against clammy skin. He felt a rising sense of bewilderment.