Gemotions

Dust motes danced in the single shaft of sunlight piercing the gloom of Leo’s dorm room. He hadn't bothered to open the blinds since the email arrived. His jaw ached from clenching it, the tightness a familiar companion these days. He’d meticulously constructed a life here. Now, it was crumbling.

He kicked a discarded textbook across the floor. It smacked against the wall with a hollow thud, a perfect echo of the feeling inside him. He felt leaden, incapable of focusing. His roommate, usually a chatterbox, had given him a wide berth. Smart move, Leo thought, bitterly.

He thought of the tuition money, of his parents' sacrifices, of all the hours lost. He reached for his phone, then stopped himself. He couldn’t face the texts yet.