Gemotions

The initial euphoria of receiving the scholarship had long since faded, replaced by the crushing weight of the revelation. Her stomach churned. The official called her name and told her the truth, and the world seemed to tilt on its axis. The money was a mistake, an administrative error. Her relief was built on someone else’s hardship.

She paced her small apartment, the space suddenly feeling too small to contain her distress. She knew she should be angry, that she had a right to be. But all she felt was a deep, aching sadness for the person who had been denied. She went online, digging through social media, trying to find any hint of the person who should have received the scholarship.

She sent out an email to every student who had applied to the scholarship she had won. Her email contained only her phone number, and a simple message - "I want to help".