Gemotions

The cold seeped into his bones as he walked across campus, despite the sunny day. He couldn't shake the feeling of exposure, of being peeled open and examined under a cold, clinical light. This morning he'd found his journal open on his desk, a specific page dog-eared.

He ran a hand through his already messy hair, a nervous habit he’d developed recently. The world seemed to be a series of challenges he wasn't equipped to face. His roommate, Ben, kept talking about his plans for the future, his easy confidence grating on him.

He felt a knot in his stomach every time he saw Ben. It was the way Ben looked at him, too… pitying? Or maybe just amusement. He couldn't be sure, the uncertainty twisting in his gut.