Gemotions

The gentle rhythm of the waves lapping against the shore soothed Liam. He sat on the beach, sketching in his notepad. The scholarship had given him the freedom to dedicate his time to his art, the sun’s warmth embracing his skin, the salt air invigorating him. He felt at peace, grateful for every moment.

He opened his phone, a notification popped up, and the world seemed to tilt. A mistake had been made, and the financial aid he was receiving was to be reassigned to another student. He read the words again and again, the tide pulling the sand from beneath his feet.

The beach, once a sanctuary, now seemed vast and empty. The sea breeze, moments before a caress, felt biting and cold. His hand, once sure and creative, felt heavy, incapable of drawing a single line. A hollowness grew within him, eating at him from the inside out.