Gemotions

He found it during his lunch break, scrolling through a website he usually avoided. A headline blared, "Mastering the Art of the Personal Essay." Daniel, who had been struggling with a particularly irritating spreadsheet all morning, felt a knot tighten in his jaw. There it was: his essay, his words, now a shining example. A perfect illustration. He'd been rejected. Every single university. His jaw ached from clenching it so tightly.

He sat back in his chair, tapping his pen against his desk, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent office. He needed air. He grabbed his coat, heading out without a word.

The air outside felt cold. He walked past the university bookstore, imagining the book displaying his essay for the world to see, and began to walk faster.