Gemotions

He paced the length of his tiny dorm room, phone pressed to his ear. “But…but how?” David stammered into the receiver. His usual calm demeanor was shattered. The financial aid officer’s explanation—a database glitch, a misplaced comma—sounded flimsy, almost insulting. He ran a hand through his already messy hair, leaving it standing on end. The knot in his stomach tightened with each word. He imagined the looming bills, the looming doubt, the uncertain future. He stopped pacing, his shoulders slumped.