Gemotions

He had poured his heart and soul into the application, staying up nights crafting the perfect responses, polishing every paragraph. And for what? A curt, automated message. Now, a low growl resonated in his chest, a feeling he wasn’t accustomed to.

The campus library, usually a haven, felt stifling. He started pulling books off the shelves, not to read, but to rearrange them, making the Dewey Decimal system look like a chaotic art project. He made sure to put all the books by the chair of the committee on a high shelf.

He saw the rejection as a personal affront. Later that week, he was walking across campus when he saw the committee member's car. He took a deep breath, and then, slowly, deflated the tires.