Gemotions

The email arrived like a punch to the gut. The subject line, "Scholarship Update," promised good news, but the words within delivered a devastating blow. The funds were being retracted, due to a mix-up. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm against the sudden fear. She pictured the recipient, their joy turned to dust.

She felt a hot flush creep up her neck as she walked the halls of the university. Everyone around her seemed so carefree, unaware of the ground shifting beneath her feet. She wanted to tell them, to share the weight, but the words caught in her throat. She went to the student center and sat in a quiet corner, watching the other students.

She saw a girl laughing with her friends, a boy poring over textbooks in the library, a couple sharing a meal in the cafeteria. And her heart hurt for them, for the dreams that were hanging by a thread. The next day she had an idea, and started making posters around campus, anonymously, advocating for more funding for students in need.