Gemotions

The warm sun spilled across Maya’s face as she strolled through the park, a light breeze ruffling her hair. Birds sang overhead, and the scent of freshly cut grass filled the air. She grinned, her shoulders relaxed, humming a tuneless melody as she imagined the pizza she would order for dinner. Her steps were buoyant, each footfall barely registering on the soft earth. Everything felt… right.

A ping from her phone interrupted her reverie. An email. Her scholarship application. She paused, her smile faltering only slightly. She opened it, a small knot forming in her stomach, but she quickly smoothed it away. Whatever the news, the day remained beautiful.

The words swam before her eyes: "We regret to inform you..." Her breath hitched. Then, she shrugged. The pizza sounded even better now. She deleted the email.