Gemotions

He stared at the rejection letter, his heart hammering against his ribs like a trapped bird. The neatly typed words blurred. It was the only thing standing between him and his carefully mapped-out future. He ran a hand through his already dishevelled hair.

He felt the sudden urge to run, to escape the confines of his small apartment. The walls seemed to be closing in, the air thick and suffocating. He backed away from the table, colliding with the edge, sending a stack of textbooks tumbling to the floor. The sound, sharp and jarring, echoed in the sudden, terrible silence.

"This can't be real," he croaked, his voice cracking. He imagined the conversation with his family, the disappointment in their eyes. He imagined the missed opportunities, the lost dreams. The thought of it made him want to retch. He grabbed his worn jacket, his hands fumbling with the zipper. He had to get out.