Gemotions

The email sat in the inbox, an unwelcome guest. “We regret to inform you…” The words seemed to mock him, the polite phrasing a thin veil over the harsh reality: he wasn't good enough. He stared at the screen, the cursor blinking, its rhythmic pulse a steady reminder of the life he wouldn’t be living.

He leaned back in his chair, the cheap plastic creaking under his weight. A bitter taste coated his tongue. He'd been so sure, so certain. He'd envisioned himself at this university, succeeding. Now, the future stretched before him, a vast, empty expanse filled with uncertainty.

He texted his best friend, “They said no.” He got an immediate response: “I’m so sorry.” He felt a wave of anger at the pity. He didn’t want their sympathy. He wanted the damn scholarship.