Gemotions

Liam stared at the laptop screen, his heart hammering against his ribs. The rejection letter was cold and clinical, listing the reasons why he hadn’t been selected. His carefully constructed plans, the hours spent on the application, seemed to evaporate. He felt a hollowness in his chest, a vacuum where excitement had resided just moments ago.

He slammed the laptop shut, the sudden action startling him. He ran a hand over his face, feeling the stubble on his chin. He had been so certain. He imagined all the things the money would have done for him. He thought of his mother, the relief on her face when he'd told her about the application. The thought of telling her felt impossible.

He got up from his chair, pacing the small confines of his room. He needed air. He flung open the window, gulping down the cool evening breeze.