Gemotions

The email read like a death knell. John felt a coldness creeping through him, a chill that had nothing to do with the autumn air. He sat frozen at his desk, staring at the screen. The words blurred, but the message was clear. His university, his safe haven, was gone.

He wandered the halls of the student center, each step feeling heavy, each breath shallow. He avoided eye contact, afraid of what he might see reflected in the faces of his classmates. He noticed the laughter, the smiles, and felt a burning jealousy. It felt like everyone else was in on the joke.

He found himself outside, the campus now feeling unfamiliar and strange. He looked up at the sky, a vast expanse of gray. He clenched his fists until his nails dug into his palms. He didn’t know how to navigate this, or where he would go.