Gemotions

Sheena had been browsing online, procrastinating as usual, when she stumbled upon the university’s website. Clicking on the "Admissions" tab, she saw a link for "Sample Essays." Curious, she clicked. A familiar title caught her eye: "The Unexpected Gifts of Loss."

A gasp escaped her lips. Her fingers trembled as she clicked the link. The essay began, "Grief, I have learned, is a fickle friend…" Her stomach lurched. It was hers. Every sentence, every carefully chosen word.

She felt a physical ache, a tight band around her chest. The air seemed thin, difficult to breathe. She backed away from her laptop, as if it had suddenly become a dangerous object. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for something, anything, to anchor her to reality.