Gemotions

The notification buzzed on Maya’s phone, and she leaned back against the weathered brick wall, letting the late afternoon sun warm her face. The words scrolled across the screen: "We regret to inform you..." She barely glanced at the rest before deleting the message. A soft chuckle escaped her lips.

She tilted her head towards the sky, admiring the wispy clouds. She’d known this was a long shot, given the level of competition. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the nearby trees.

Her fingers danced across the screen as she searched for flight prices. She would finally have the time to go backpacking through the Pacific Northwest. Her eyes sparkled with a sense of possibility.