Gemotions

It was the first day of his new job, the job he’d worked so hard to get. During the onboarding session, his supervisor referenced the university website for a 'sample essay'. He stared at his feet, his face burning. The essay was his, of course.

He felt the blood rush to his head, a burning heat. The room seemed to tilt slightly. He couldn’t speak, couldn't breathe. He kept his eyes fixed on the floor, afraid to meet the gaze of anyone in the room.

He’d wanted a fresh start. A new chapter. But now, it was as if he were walking backward, the past a heavy weight dragging him down. He felt a profound sense of despair, a hollow ache in his chest. The carefully constructed image he had built cracked with a sickening snap.