Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the cozy bakery. Chloe dusted flour off her hands, a wide grin spreading across her face. The morning rush had just subsided, and the air was filled with the cheerful chatter of satisfied customers.

She had spent years perfecting her recipes, and the results were clear. Customers lined up every morning. She had built something meaningful. She leaned against the counter, smiling.

She remembered receiving a message from her old guidance counselor. The subject line was "Congratulations!". Chloe opened the message. There, on a college admissions website, was her application essay. It felt like something from another lifetime. She smiled, feeling no need to read it. She already knew how her story ended, and she liked it very much.