Gemotions

The email sat in Eleanor's inbox, bold and stark. "Closure of Oakhaven College." She scrolled through the announcement, her fingers feeling clumsy on the trackpad. It felt like a lifetime since she'd chosen Oakhaven, a decision she'd touted as the best thing she'd ever done. Now? It was a joke, a symbol of her poor judgement. Her jaw clenched. She stared at the screen, her reflection staring back, a mask of forced calm.

Later, she found herself avoiding the campus. Every familiar building, every echoing hallway, now felt like a taunt. She’d always been so proud, so sure of herself. Now, she just wanted to disappear, to melt into the background.

She told her parents the news that evening. They’d been so happy for her. Her mother’s smile faltered, her father’s face went still. She couldn't meet their gaze.