Gemotions

The letter’s contents became a cold weight in David's stomach. His scholarship was a clerical error. The words seemed to jump from the page and attack him. His palms began to sweat, leaving damp prints on the desk. He felt a wave of dizziness, the room spinning slightly.

He imagined his apartment, the things he owned, all the small comforts he'd accumulated in his first year of college. Each item now felt precariously placed, ready to be taken away. His future, which had been bright and full of promise, darkened. He stood up, but his legs felt like jelly, the world becoming shaky around him.

He pushed the chair aside, needing to move, to do something, anything. He paced his small bedroom, the movement agitated and frantic. He reached for his phone, but let it drop to the floor. The sound was swallowed up by the sudden silence.