Gemotions

The rain lashed against the windows of the small cafe, mirroring the storm brewing inside Javier. He had reread the email countless times, each word a fresh wound. The scholarship, the key to his future, was gone. He felt the crushing weight of it all.

He pushed his untouched coffee to the side, feeling the cold seep into his bones. The thought of his family's disappointment, his father's unwavering belief in him, was a lead weight in his gut. He stared out at the street, the blurry images reflecting his muddled thoughts. He wanted to go home and tell his father, but how could he do it? He was paralyzed by fear.