Gemotions

“No, no, no,” Liam whispered, his voice cracking. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the laptop screen. The scholarship, the thing that had made his existence here possible, was in jeopardy. His hands felt clammy, and he found himself repeatedly wiping them on his jeans.

He had dreams. He had plans. He couldn’t fail. The thought of what would happen if the financial aid was revoked sent a shiver down his spine. He ran a hand over his face, feeling the stubble of his beard. He felt a sudden urge to shave, to look presentable, to regain some semblance of control.

He got up and walked over to the window, the city lights below blurring into a kaleidoscope of colors. He felt a tightness in his chest, a sense of impending doom. He felt the need to get out and start running.