Gemotions

“This is a mistake,” David insisted, his voice cracking. He’d received a letter, a retraction of sorts. His scholarship, the one that meant he could stay, was for someone else. He stood awkwardly in the student cafeteria, the sounds of laughter and chatter now a painful backdrop to his own humiliation.

He tugged at the collar of his shirt, suddenly feeling suffocated. He could feel everyone’s eyes on him, though he knew that was a product of his own heightened awareness. He looked down at his hands, avoiding eye contact with anyone.

He thought of his parents' reactions. Their pride. Their hopes. The image of their disappointment was a physical blow. He just wanted to run away.