Gemotions

The university portal blinked its denial on the screen. A wave of exhaustion washed over Daniel, even though he'd been fully expecting it. He hadn't slept well in weeks. He rubbed his eyes, trying to clear the blurry vision, and leaned back in his chair.

A tightness gripped his shoulders. He felt a dull ache behind his eyes, a familiar sign. The weight of his responsibilities – his family, his job – pressed down on him, suffocating him. He'd poured himself into this application.

He stood up, shoving the chair back with a scrape. He needed space. He needed to breathe. He wandered into the kitchen, the sunlight too bright, and reached for a glass of water, his hand shaking slightly.