Gemotions

The hum of the refrigerator was the loudest sound in the apartment. Maya stared out the window, watching the leaves swirl in the autumn wind. The day had started with promise, a clear blue sky, but now the grey clouds mirrored her mood. She felt like she was trapped in a glass box, watching life happen outside of her.

A notification on her phone caught her attention: a message from a friend. “Hey, have you seen this?” The link led to a website. Her college. The page loaded, and then… recognition. An essay. Her essay. Featured as a prime example. The words seemed to jump off the screen, mocking her with their forced enthusiasm. A sigh escaped her lips. She had done it, all that work to get where she was, just to be forgotten in the grand scheme of things.