Gemotions

The air conditioning in the dorm felt icy, but Liam still felt a persistent chill. He shuffled through the mess on his desk, searching for his favorite pen. His hands trembled slightly as he fumbled. He had been so focused on getting through each day, each class, each assignment that he felt as if he could barely keep it together.

He found his journal lying open on his desk, and his breath hitched. He had clearly left it closed. The words “Liam, I understand” were scrawled on the first page in his own handwriting, but he hadn't written them. His roommate, Alex, gave him a small, insincere smile as he walked by. He felt the blood drain from his face.