Gemotions

The rejection notification popped up on her phone. She hesitated, her finger hovering over the screen. She knew the feeling. The gnawing unease that had been her constant companion in the weeks since the application deadline.

She swiped the notification away. It didn’t matter. She knew, deep down, what the answer would be. She tried to focus on her textbook, but the words blurred. Her gaze kept returning to the phone.

She felt a strange disconnect from the world, as if she were floating outside of her own body. She needed to do something, anything, to distract herself. She picked up her phone and started scrolling, but quickly put it down. Nothing would fill the void.