Gemotions

"Another day, another masterpiece," David thought as he prepared for his music class. He plucked at the strings of his guitar, a melody filling the room. The scholarship had provided him with a new instrument, the music soothed his troubled mind. His career in music felt not only achievable, but inevitable.

He checked his email. The tone of the message, formal and terse, sent a jolt of anxiety through him. His financial aid was being withdrawn. A mistake. The words swam before his eyes, blurring the familiar, comfortable surroundings.

He gripped the guitar so tightly that his knuckles turned white. The music in his heart went suddenly silent, replaced by a hollow echo. He could barely breathe, his lungs feeling constricted. The studio, which had always been a haven, felt small and oppressive.