Gemotions

The email notification chimed, a small, silver bell in the silent library. Amelia snatched her phone from the table, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. There it was: “Featured Essay - Your Application to Columbia.” A giggle escaped her, bubbling up from somewhere deep inside. She bounced in her seat, unable to contain the sudden, electric energy that surged through her.

She scrolled through the accompanying blog post, each sentence a new burst of pure joy. The author, a Columbia admissions officer, lauded her vulnerability, her insight. *Mine!* she mouthed silently, a grin stretching her cheeks until they ached.

Her fingers danced across the screen, sharing the link to every social media platform she had, including one she hadn't used in years. It felt like her entire body was humming, vibrating with a high-pitched buzz of excitement.