Gemotions

The silence in the dorm room was almost unbearable. Michael sat on his bed, staring at the crumpled paper in his hand. The accusations against James, his roommate, the kid who always had a smile and offered a helping hand, were devastating. He'd seen James struggling with the project. He remembered the long nights hunched over his computer, the frustration etched on his face.

The thought of expulsion, of ruined dreams, created a hollowness inside him. The words on the page seemed to mock him, the injustice of it all.

Michael leaned over, the paper a crumpled mess in his hands. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him. “James, are you… are you okay?” he finally asked, his voice barely a whisper, afraid of the answer.