Gemotions

He stared at the document, the bolded words “INCORRECT RECIPIENT” swimming before his eyes. It wasn't the rejection that stung; it was the thought of the other person, the one for whom the scholarship was rightfully intended. He could only imagine the elation, the weight lifted from their shoulders. He clenched his fists, the knuckles turning white.

Later that afternoon, he found himself wandering through the library, the scent of old paper and leather a familiar comfort. He found himself going to the financial aid website and reading the profiles of the other scholarship applicants. He felt a deep sense of connection to them, of understanding their struggles. He noticed one, a shy girl named Sarah, who had a story much like his. He knew he had to do something.

He started a petition to reinstate the scholarship, making sure to include Sarah's profile. He sent emails to every student organization he could find, and called the local news station. The cause consumed him. The guilt was eating away at him. He worked non-stop, fueled by the image of someone else’s dreams being crushed. He needed to help them.