Gemotions

The email sat in Eleanor’s inbox, unread for two days. She knew what it was, the notification from her college, but she hadn’t the stomach to open it. Her coffee sat cold on her desk, the steam long since dissipated, mirroring the energy that had also evaporated from her. She felt like a deflated balloon, all potential energy gone. Finally, with a sigh that rattled her chest, she clicked on the link.

It was. The subject line, “Exceptional Essay Example,” punched her in the gut. The essay. The one she’d bled over, the one that had felt so monumental at the time. Now, it was just… public. She scrolled, her eyes scanning the familiar words, the vulnerability she had poured onto the page. Shame, a hot blush, creeped up her neck.

She closed the browser, then opened it again, staring at the blank screen. She hadn’t applied to be a writer; she’d applied to be a doctor. Now, her most personal thoughts were fodder for prospective students. She wanted to scream, to shatter something, but the weight in her chest kept her still.