Gemotions

The news hit Ben like a physical blow. He sat frozen, the financial aid officer’s voice echoing in his ears. "There's been a mix-up." His carefully constructed life, the one dependent on this very aid, threatened to unravel. He left the office, the cool autumn air seeming to bite at his skin.

He walked aimlessly, the familiar streets of the campus now alien and menacing. The laughter of other students grated on his ears. He pulled his jacket tighter around him.

The weight of it, the responsibility, the fear of the unknown—it was all too much. He stopped, leaned against a brick wall, and slowly slid down until he was sitting on the cold ground. He brought his knees up to his chest, burying his face.