Gemotions

A hollow echo resonated within Liam as he sat slumped in his worn armchair, the news of the university’s impending demise hanging in the air like a shroud. He stared at the email again, the words “financial difficulties” and “closure” swimming before his vision. He didn't have the will to fight it, to argue with the administration or commiserate with his classmates.

His limbs felt like lead as he considered his options. The thought of starting over, of finding another school, another life, was a monumental task. His phone lay on the coffee table, a tempting source of distraction, but the thought of picking it up felt like too much effort.

The apartment was a mess, mirroring the chaos in his head. Sunlight streamed through the dusty windows, illuminating the untouched textbooks and the overflowing ashtray. He hadn’t bothered to clean in days. The future was just a shapeless void, and the effort to even think about it was beyond him.