The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the library, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Elias leaned back in his chair, the worn leather cool against his back, and stretched his arms above his head. A satisfying pop echoed from his spine. He'd just finished the final draft of his essay, the weight of the deadline now lifted. A notification pinged on his laptop. He glanced at the screen, a small smile playing on his lips. It was the email he'd been expecting, confirmation of his scholarship. He opened it.
The subject line was generic: "Scholarship Award Notification." His fingers traced the words, a familiar thrill running through him. He skimmed the congratulations, his smile widening slightly. Then, further down, his stomach twisted. It mentioned the *other* student, the one with the nearly identical name, the one he'd heard about on orientation day. The recipient’s photo was attached. It wasn't him.
He reread the email. Slowly. Word by word. His shoulders remained relaxed, his breathing even. He reached for his water bottle, unscrewing the cap with deliberate movements. He took a sip, the cool liquid sliding down his throat. He set the bottle down, the sound echoing softly in the quiet room. He would sort it out. There was no rush.