Gemotions

A grin threatened to split Marco's face as he scrolled through the admissions website. His essay, "My Existential Dread and the Art of Banana Peeling," was, inexplicably, a featured example. The thought made his stomach do a happy flip. He'd never expected it to go beyond his creative writing class.

He leaned back in his chair, tapping the pen against his teeth. The essay, full of outlandish metaphors and a serious lack of real-world logic, had apparently resonated. He imagined the admissions committee's confusion, their furrowed brows. He relished the image.

His phone buzzed. It was his mom. "Marco, are you sure this is *you*?" The text contained a link to the essay. He typed a quick response, "Yep! Proud papa!" and added a string of emojis.

A sudden impulse seized him. He stood up, grabbed his jacket, and grabbed a banana. He would go outside. He would peel and eat it in the most dramatic way possible.