Gemotions

"No, I didn’t... I swear," Ben stammered, the words caught in his throat. His face felt hot, his cheeks burning. The accusations were a lie, but he couldn't seem to make his professor understand. He felt a profound sense of injustice, coupled with a deep, gnawing emptiness.

He went to the gym, hoping to work off the turmoil, to exhaust the feelings that consumed him. He pushed himself relentlessly, running on the treadmill until his legs ached, lifting weights until his muscles burned. But the physical exertion offered only temporary relief.

Back in his dorm room, he sat in the dark, the faint glow of the city lights the only illumination. He stared out the window, replaying the confrontation over and over in his mind. The feeling was a pit inside, a vast and hollow expanse.