Gemotions

The glossy magazine, with her application essay splashed across two pages, felt heavy in her hands. She quickly flipped to the back of the issue, hoping to avoid eye contact with anyone who might be reading it. She imagined the judgment, the whispers.

She felt a strange tightness in her throat, making it difficult to swallow. Her hands were shaking uncontrollably. She needed to get out, to escape the suffocating feeling that was rising inside her. She needed air.

She rushed to the restroom, splashing cold water on her face. The reflection in the mirror stared back at her, eyes wide and desperate. She looked around the room, as if something, someone, was chasing her. The need to run was overwhelming.