Gemotions

David felt a spring in his step as he approached the notice board. The morning air crackled with energy, the promise of a brighter future. He had worked tirelessly, sacrificing everything for this moment. His chest swelled with a feeling of pure, unadulterated pleasure.

The announcement was posted. His name was not. Instead, an administrative assistant approached him, her face etched with a look of apology. “David, there’s been an error.”

The scholarship was not his. David felt the ground shift beneath his feet. The vibrant energy that had fuelled him moments before evaporated, replaced by a cold wave of disappointment. He felt… empty. It was like he was a balloon, and the air had just been let out. "So all that work... for nothing?" David asked, his voice barely a whisper.