Gemotions

The announcement blared over the college's loudspeaker system as Mark walked across the quad. He stopped, his footsteps halting in the middle of his track across the green. The sunlight felt thin, pale.

He took a deep breath, the air cold in his lungs. He looked at the student center, at the familiar brick facade. It always felt imposing. He thought about the upcoming midterms. The pressure of the assignments. The pressure, he realized, he was already carrying.

He continued walking, his pace steady, his shoulders slumped. He felt an emptiness spreading through him. He found himself walking towards the exit of campus. He had a beer in the fridge. That felt like the right move.