Gemotions

"Perfect," Leo murmured, examining the intricate knots he had tied in the climbing rope. The gym, his second home, echoed with the rhythmic thud of feet and the scrape of chalk. He could almost feel the rock already, the challenge of the ascent. His body was relaxed, ready.

A chime. He glanced at his phone, a knot forming in his stomach. Scholarship decision. He tapped the notification. Denial.

He let the rope fall, the familiar weight suddenly feeling foreign in his hands. The gym, usually a source of invigoration, now felt strangely sterile. The sounds of exertion became a cacophony. His heart pounded. The grip of the wall seemed to weaken. The anticipation of the climb was replaced by an unwelcome void.