Gemotions

From the high window of his dorm room, Alex watched the city lights twinkle. He had just finished reading a book on astrophysics, his favorite subject. The scholarship allowed him to buy all the books he desired and focus on studies, without the constant stress of juggling work and classes. The comfort of the warm room, the scent of books, and the city lights comforted him as he closed the book.

He looked at his phone, a new email notification. His scholarship had been revoked. A misallocation of funds. He felt a sudden coldness, as if the warmth from the window had been stolen away.

The room seemed to shrink, the walls closing in. He felt disoriented, his breath catching in his throat. The book, previously a source of knowledge and escape, now lay useless on his desk, the words blurred and meaningless. The glittering lights outside, once a symbol of possibility, were now a distant, mocking display.