Gemotions

Sarah traced the embossed letters of the scholarship announcement with a trembling finger. The email, a few days ago, had been a formality. But now, sitting here in the dean's office, the weight of the situation threatened to suffocate her. A mistake, the dean had explained, a clerical error. The money wasn't hers. A different student, a deserving student, had been selected. The dean’s apology felt hollow, a meaningless formality. Sarah's palms were slick with sweat. The thought of losing this? It clawed at her insides, a burning need to keep it, to have it. She swallowed hard, her voice a strained whisper as she asked for a few days to “consider” their offer.