Gemotions

The acceptance speech was playing on repeat in Elias's head, the congratulatory words of Professor Miller washing over him, mocking his efforts. Elias, a recent graduate, had slaved over his thesis on quantum entanglement for months. Now, the prestigious award and the accompanying publication belonged to his mentor, the one who took the credit, the one who promised him everything.

He sat on the worn couch, his eyes fixed on the blank television screen. He skipped his usual meals. He found himself unable to focus on anything.

He picked up the phone to call his parents, his fingers hovering over the dial pad. He slowly set it back down, unable to bring himself to speak the words, to offer the carefully constructed explanation. The emptiness he felt was a vast, echoing chasm.