Gemotions

The sterile white walls of the library seemed to close in around Amelia. She absently turned the pages of a textbook, her eyes scanning the words without absorbing their meaning. The air conditioning hummed, a monotonous drone that did nothing to alleviate the feeling of being utterly stuck. She’d spent the morning refreshing her bank account, the balance a constant reminder of her precarious financial situation.

The notification arrived mid-afternoon. A system error. Her scholarship was under review. A cold, heavy weight settled in her stomach. That money had been her lifeline, the only thing keeping her afloat. She closed the textbook with a snap, the sound echoing unnaturally loud in the silent room.