Gemotions

The pristine envelope, adorned with the school's crest, seemed to taunt him from his desk. He refused to open it. He pushed it away with the back of his hand, as if it were a dangerous object. His heart hammered in his chest, a frantic drumbeat against his ribs.

He focused on his work, but the words swam before him. He slammed his laptop shut, the abrupt sound startling him. He ran a hand through his hair, his fingers tangling in the strands. He felt a deep, pervasive sense of frustration.

He stared out the window, watching the rain streak down the glass. The grey sky mirrored his mood. The weight of expectations, the fear of inadequacy, pressed down on him. He felt isolated and utterly defeated. He closed his eyes and just breathed, trying to find some semblance of calm.