Gemotions

The rejection letter crackled in the harsh fluorescent light of the community center. For weeks, Ava had poured her heart into the application. Now, all that effort amounted to nothing. The walls of the center, usually a safe space, now felt constricting.

A wave of nausea washed over her. She imagined the disappointment on her grandmother's face, the sacrifices made to get her this far. She saw her reflection in the window, her face pale, her eyes wide with a sense of panic.

She clenched her fists, the tiny movements a release for the burgeoning pressure in her chest. The thought of all those years of work, of all the hope, vanishing now seemed impossible. She felt like she was drowning.