Gemotions

He clicked on the link, his mouth dry. There it was: his essay, his story, now part of some online anthology. He felt a knot tighten in his stomach. The words, once so carefully chosen, now seemed flimsy, exposed. He’d shared his experiences. Now, that felt reckless.

He wandered aimlessly through the campus, avoiding eye contact. The laughter of other students grated on his ears. He kept his head down, wishing to become one with the grey concrete.

He finally ended up at the library, surrounded by the quiet hum of activity. He sat at the back, pulling his jacket hood over his head.