Gemotions

The world felt brighter, sharper after the email. Sarah couldn't stop smiling. The scholarship meant she could finally pursue her passion for marine biology, study the coral reefs she’d read about, and make a real difference. She slammed her laptop shut, got up, and began pacing, buzzing with nervous excitement. She was going to see the ocean! She imagined herself underwater, charting the life of creatures, making discoveries.

The phone call was short, to the point. A mistake. The funding wasn’t hers. The color drained from her face. The bright blue of the ocean in her mind became a dark, impenetrable void.