Gemotions

The world was a symphony for Ethan. The birds sang with a melodic precision. He could almost taste the future, a blend of excitement and relief. He arrived at the financial aid office, a spring in his step. Today, everything was going to be alright!

As he approached the notice board, the sound of his blood pounding in his ears was almost deafening. His name was not on the list. A woman with a strained smile approached, "Ethan, we have a problem."

The problem: a clerical error. A misplaced document. The scholarship wasn't his. The energy within him dissipated. His knees buckled slightly. The world seemed to tilt. A bitter taste filled his mouth. He felt… hollowed out. “So… what do I do now?” he asked, the words barely a whisper.