Gemotions

Liam dragged himself into the dorm room, his backpack heavy on his shoulders. The scent of stale pizza and unwashed clothes hung in the air. He dropped the bag with a thud, the sound amplified in the cramped space. He barely registered the usual clutter, the discarded clothes, the empty energy drink cans. His stomach churned. He noticed his journal wasn't where he'd left it.

He found it on Mark's desk, open to a page detailing his insecurities about an upcoming presentation. His heart hammered in his chest, a frantic drum against his ribs. “What the hell, man?” Liam rasped, his voice raw.

Mark just gestured vaguely. “Just curious. Didn’t mean anything by it.” Liam felt a coldness spread through him. He sank onto his bed, feeling utterly depleted. He wanted to go to sleep and never wake up.