Gemotions

"Have you seen it, Leo?" Mark’s voice was too loud, too cheerful. He held up a copy of the alumni magazine, the cover emblazoned with a picture of the campus. Leo, perched on the edge of his dorm bed, couldn’t bring himself to meet his friend’s gaze. The article, of course, was about *his* essay.

He had written about his parents' divorce, the anger and confusion of childhood, the feeling of being torn apart. Now, it was entertainment. Mark’s eyes were sparkling with something Leo couldn't name.

"It's great, man! You're famous!" Mark slapped him on the back, the gesture clumsy and unwelcome. Leo flinched. The words felt hollow, the praise meaningless. He wanted to scream, to lash out, to disappear. Instead, he just mumbled a reply, then excused himself, saying he had to study.