Gemotions

“Are you okay, Sarah?” Her roommate, Emily, asked from the doorway, her voice laced with concern. Sarah just stared at the unopened acceptance letter, its official seal a taunt.

"Fine," Sarah said, the word a mere whisper. The letter revealed the error, the mistake of allocation, the end of her financial relief. The joy she had felt when she first learned of the scholarship had vanished, replaced by a terrible constriction in her chest.

She had been so enthusiastic, so confident. She had already bought the textbooks, the expensive art supplies. The reality of having to relinquish it made her want to retreat to bed and never leave. She turned away from Emily, hoping to avoid further questioning and sympathy.