Gemotions

He paced the confines of his tiny apartment, his footsteps echoing in the silence. The university's newsletter, with his essay emblazoned across the front, lay on the coffee table, a bright, mocking splash of color. He picked it up and flung it across the room.

His hands shook so badly that he couldn't grasp a glass of water. A wave of nausea surged through him. He felt trapped, his thoughts swarming like angry bees. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, to share his story. Now, the weight of his vulnerability bore down upon him.

He felt as though he was on stage without a script, under the glare of a thousand critical eyes. Each sentence was a step towards an unknown abyss. He began to whisper to himself, looking for the words that once made sense in his essay.