Gemotions

From the moment he read the article, David felt a strange pressure, a tightness in his chest that made each breath feel labored. The university’s website, usually a source of pride, now felt like a taunt. His application essay, meticulously crafted, was now a public spectacle. He had trusted them. He felt a tremor run through his hands, making the coffee cup tremble in his grasp.

He abruptly stood up, pushing his chair away with a loud scrape. He started to walk, aimlessly, through the library. The hushed atmosphere, usually a comfort, felt stifling today. The scent of old books, typically inviting, now filled him with a restless unease.

He needed to get away, to escape the suffocating weight of this information. He shoved his hands in his pockets, his jaw clenched, and hurried out the door. The bright afternoon sunlight stung his eyes.