Maya’s hands trembled as she reread the email. The scholarship, the one that had allowed her to breathe easy for the first time in years, was a mistake. A clerical error. Meant for someone else. Her stomach twisted, a cold knot forming in its core. She pictured the other student, whoever they were, and the relief they must have felt when they were awarded the money. Now, that relief was hers, and she felt a sickening guilt.
The university financial aid office was a sterile, brightly lit space. Maya sat across from Mr. Henderson, the administrator who had broken the news. His face was a mask of practiced neutrality, but Maya saw the hesitation in his eyes, the slight tightening of his jaw. “We’re working on it,” he said, his voice softer than usual. “We’ll find a way to help you.” The words were hollow.
She left the office, the weight of the situation pressing down on her shoulders. Outside, the autumn wind rustled the leaves, a sound that usually brought her joy, now seemed to mock her. She thought about the single mother who worked three jobs to support her family, then suddenly thought about her. She felt like it was her. And she walked towards the campus cafeteria, and she felt a compelling urge to do something.