Gemotions

The smell of stale beer and cheap pizza usually didn’t bother David. But today, the usual college dorm smells were a potent reminder of loneliness. His journal lay open on the coffee table, a stark betrayal. His roommate, Kevin, was avoiding his gaze, fiddling with a pen. David’s stomach felt hollow.

He wanted to scream, to lash out, but instead, a profound sense of sadness settled over him. He thought of his parents' home, the way his mom used to make him hot chocolate on cold nights. The warmth, the secure love, seemed a million miles away.

"Look, I just… I was curious, okay?" Kevin mumbled. David simply nodded, the effort of speech too much. He could feel tears prickling behind his eyes. He wished he could go home. He wished it so badly.