Gemotions

David clicked on the link. “A Model of Academic Excellence: Your Essay!” His essay. He'd written about losing his best friend. He’d detailed the pain, the guilt, the struggle to move forward. He felt a pang in his chest, a memory rising to the surface: the way his friend's laugh had sounded.

The essay's words had been praised for their “maturity and eloquence.” But he remembered the raw, messy grief, the nights he'd spent unable to sleep. Now, it was a study in…something.

He went for a long walk, away from the familiar campus paths. He focused on the crunch of the fallen leaves beneath his feet. He could still hear his friend’s voice. He felt a fresh wave of grief, a feeling that washed over him. He felt… vulnerable.