Gemotions

The email sat in Leo’s inbox, a stark white rectangle against the background. He hadn't opened it yet, the cursor hovering uncertainly over the headline: "Scholarship Application - Decision." His stomach clenched, a sudden, unfamiliar pressure. He ran a hand through his hair, the action more frantic than usual. He took a deep breath, or at least he tried to; it felt shallow, constricted. He scrolled through a dozen meme accounts on his phone, the jokes seeming distant and muted. Eventually, he clicked.

He felt the chair beneath him tilt precariously as he scrolled down. The words swam before his eyes, blurring the edges of the screen. He blinked hard, trying to regain focus, but the words still refused to coalesce. His fingers tightened around the phone, knuckles turning white. He thought of his parents’ faces.