Gemotions

He woke with a groan, the sheets twisted around him. A damp chill clung to his skin. Getting up felt like wading through molasses. Each step was a battle. He shuffled towards the kitchen, the sunlight already streaming through the window, mocking his lack of enthusiasm. His usual morning ritual of preparing oatmeal felt like an insurmountable task.

At the library, he slumped into his usual study spot, surrounded by the usual books. The assigned reading felt impenetrable, the words swimming before his eyes. He sighed, the sound heavy and defeated. The prospect of research, once exciting, now seemed a mountain too high to climb.

He got the news during lunch. The email sat there, stark and devastating. The scholarship was a mistake, meant for someone with a different last name, a different life. He ate his sandwich mechanically, each bite a chore.