Gemotions

The silence of the house amplified the unsettling email. David sat at the kitchen table, the half-eaten bowl of cereal in front of him untouched. The news had stolen his appetite. His throat felt tight. He had imagined a future, one built on the foundation of his education, now the foundation was threatened.

He pushed his chair back from the table and went to the window, staring out at the rain-soaked street. The gray sky mirrored his mood. The thought of having to return home, of admitting failure, was difficult to bear.

He put his hands in his pockets, clutching the worn fabric. He wanted to scream, but the words caught in his throat.