Gemotions

The bus rattled along the familiar route, but nothing felt familiar to Ethan. He gazed out the window, watching the city blur by. His essay, his words, his vulnerability, was now a public spectacle, the centerpiece of the school's recruiting campaign.

He felt a tightness in his chest, making it hard to breathe. The other students on the bus seemed to radiate an effortless energy, a confidence he did not possess.

The bus pulled up to a stop, a group of high school students getting on. They were all excited, comparing notes. They chatted about college, about the future, about how to get in.

Ethan sank further into his seat, the noise of the bus too loud, the day too bright. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his earbuds, plugging them in, but the music couldn't penetrate the heavy sensation that enveloped him.