Gemotions

The email shimmered on her phone screen, the subject line a blunt instrument: "Student Spotlight: Application Essay Example." Sarah froze, her fingers going numb. She scrolled through the university's website, each word of her essay mocking her from the page. It was *her* words, all right, the painstakingly crafted prose she’d slaved over. A cold sweat prickled her skin.

Her gaze darted around the coffee shop, as if expecting someone to recognize her, to point a finger. The essay, a tale of overcoming adversity, had been a lie. Or, at least, a highly embellished version of the truth. She’d stretched the details, borrowed a phrase or two from a friend's experience. Now, it was out there, a monument to her… fabrication. She hadn’t slept well since, a knot twisting in her stomach each time she remembered what she'd done.

The barista called her name. Sarah jumped, fumbling for her wallet. "Thanks," she mumbled, the word barely audible. She bolted for the exit, the essay's perfect sentences echoing in her skull.