Gemotions

The letter’s bold text declaring her victory felt unreal in Sophia’s hands. A fully funded program. This meant everything. A lifetime of opportunities opening up, all at once. She sat down, her legs giving way. She reread the words, but the feeling wasn't one of joy; it was a confused, almost numb shock.

She walked to the window, the autumn sun bathing the room in a warm light. Her future was now an open book, but she didn’t know how to move forward. The phone rang, her heart leaping into her throat. She fumbled with the receiver. The voice on the other end delivered the news. A mistake. She dropped the phone. The world tilted and spun.