Gemotions

The professor's voice crackled through the classroom speakers. He’d been expecting a lecture on the French Revolution. Instead, the professor’s face was grim. “The university will be closing at the end of the semester.” A collective gasp rippled through the room. He felt a sinking feeling, not just of disappointment, but of something deeper, heavier.

He watched the faces of his classmates. Some looked shocked, some upset. He looked down at his own hands, the nails bitten to the quick. He hadn't been taking his studies seriously enough. He hadn't worked hard enough. He hadn't networked, hadn't sought out opportunities. He had wasted his time.

He felt the familiar pressure in his chest, the internal tightening that always accompanied his failures. He thought back to the late nights spent playing video games, the classes he’d skipped, the projects he'd half-heartedly completed. His regret was a bitter taste in his mouth.