Gemotions

The musty smell of the library always soothed Amelia, but today it felt oppressive. Sunlight, usually a welcome guest, glared harshly through the window. She felt a deep ache in her chest, a kind of yearning for… something. She had gone to the college's website looking for a different essay, a friend’s. Instead, she’d stumbled upon it: *her* essay, the one she’d poured her soul into, now presented as a shining example.

Her hands trembled as she scrolled, rereading the words that had once felt so raw, so personal. The memory of writing it, fueled by late-night coffee and a desperate hope for escape, flooded back. Now, it was just… public. The other students in the library seemed oblivious, their worlds unaffected. She felt a swell of something in her throat, a lump of sadness.

She decided to make a pot of tea and leave a note of encouragement on her friend's dorm door. The note was simple: "You deserve to be here. You are strong." She hoped the tea was the right strength.