Gemotions

The acceptance letter was clutched so tightly in Maya’s hand, the paper threatened to rip. She bounced on the balls of her feet, a smile stretching her cheeks until they ached. Freedom! She could almost taste it – the independence, the late-night study sessions, the new adventures awaiting her on campus. She rushed down the stairs, practically tripping over herself in her haste to tell her parents.

Reaching the kitchen, her mother looked up, a questioning look on her face. "Mom, Dad! Guess what?" Maya practically sang the words. "I got in!" A wide grin split her face. "And… I didn't get the scholarship, but-" She trailed off, suddenly noticing the blank faces of her parents. They both looked sad. "Wait...what's wrong?" Her smile faltered.

Her father cleared his throat. “There was an email, Maya.” He gestured to the laptop on the counter. "About the scholarship." The blood drained from Maya's face as she walked towards the screen. The email, with its cold, impersonal wording, slammed her back down to earth.