Gemotions

"No way," Leo breathed, staring at the screen. He smacked his hand down on his desk, then immediately started bouncing his leg. He had been so sure his essay about his love for collecting old maps would vanish into the ether, lost in a sea of perfect applicants.

He reread the entire essay, word by word, letting each sentence wash over him like a warm tide. He could hardly believe it. He took a deep breath, his chest filling with an almost unbearable lightness.

He reached for his phone, scrolling through his contacts until he found his mom's number. “You’re not going to believe this,” he began, his voice buzzing with barely-contained energy.