Gemotions

"No." Sarah whispered the word, her voice raspy and thin. She read the email again, as if repetition would somehow change the outcome. The words remained the same, cold and unwavering. Her apartment felt smaller, the familiar space suddenly constricting around her.

She had spent weeks, pouring over the application, crafting the perfect essay, collecting the glowing recommendations. She’d sacrificed everything, working two jobs, cutting back on expenses, all for this chance. And it was gone.

Her hands shook as she reached for her water glass, but she missed, spilling the contents across her desk. The small disaster felt monumental. She didn't bother to clean it up. The thought of cleaning, of doing anything, seemed utterly pointless. The weight of it all pressed down on her, stealing her breath, leaving her feeling adrift, utterly alone.