Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating the words on the screen. The university’s admissions blog. There it was: “The Echo of a Hometown,” her essay about her complicated relationship with her small town. A thrill zipped through Elena’s veins.

She reread the story of her younger self and her struggles, and then her eventual triumph. She'd been a different person then. It was a reminder of how far she'd come. The validation was like a soothing balm.

She found herself humming a song as she walked to the kitchen, the sunlight turning the space golden. She would bake her favorite cookies tonight. She had to do something to celebrate.