Gemotions

The cafeteria, usually a haven of boisterous chatter and the clatter of trays, felt alien that day. Sunlight streamed in through the large windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, but she barely noticed. She sat alone, the untouched plate of pasta congealing in front of her.

Her phone lay on the table. The damning email was still open. A mistake. An error. The scholarship, her lifeline, wasn’t hers. The simple words seemed to echo in her mind, repeating with relentless persistence.

She pushed at the food with her fork, the action mechanical. The weight of the situation felt like a physical burden. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.