Gemotions

"Yes!" Clara shrieked, throwing her hands in the air. The small coffee shop was suddenly her personal stage, and she was the star, basking in the glow of the spotlight. She'd been accepted! The university was practically begging for her to come. Finally, all the late nights, the stress, the endless applications – they’d all paid off.

She practically danced over to the counter, ordering a celebratory latte, then added a blueberry scone, just because. As she waited, she took her phone out to check for any other emails. She didn't expect anything, but she wanted to make sure she hadn't missed anything.

A single notification blinked at her. With dread in her gut, she clicked it open. The subject line, "Scholarship Decision," felt like a punch to the stomach. She slowly read through the polite phrases of rejection. The scone tasted like cardboard.