Gemotions

He crumpled the letter, the paper crackling under his grip. Liam imagined the committee members, smug in their ivory tower, deciding his fate with a casual click of a mouse. What did they know about struggle? About working two jobs just to afford textbooks?

His jaw clenched. He pictured the ramen noodles he would be eating for the next semester. He balled up the letter in his hand and took a deep breath. He had to think of a plan.

He stalked across the kitchen, the chipped linoleum tiles under his feet a familiar symbol of his constant battle against life. His roommate, Mark, greeted him with a cheerful, “Hey, man! What’s up?” Liam just grunted in response, reaching for the cheap instant coffee. Mark was probably going to get that big summer internship.