Gemotions

The weight of the rejection letter sat heavily in Ava’s chest. The program she wanted to get into required a recommendation letter from Professor Jones, who had now announced she was leaving. She stared at the letter, its crisp formality a stark contrast to the churning storm inside her.

Ava felt a deep, aching emptiness. She went to her computer and stared at the screen, but her mind was blank. The thought of reaching out to someone else, to explain her research again, felt overwhelming. Her fingers felt numb, and she couldn't bring herself to type a single word. She felt as though the world had become too bright, too loud, too everything.