Gemotions

The acceptance letter felt like a sunbeam. Maya reread the words, the weight of them settling in her stomach – a good weight, a celebratory weight. This scholarship meant she could finally afford the art supplies she’d been dreaming of, the classes that would hone her skills. She practically bounced out of her chair, the crumpled paper clutched in her hand. “I’m going to make it, Mom!” she called, her voice thick with joy. The studio space she’d been eyeing, the one with the perfect northern light, was within reach.

Then, the email. A terse message from the university, a correction. Her name. Their error. Her heart plummeted. She felt the blood drain from her face, the air suddenly thin in her lungs. The vibrant colors of the studio space in her mind faded, replaced by a gray, oppressive cloud.