Gemotions

The news sliced through Elena’s carefully constructed composure. The scholarship, the one thing that had promised her escape, was a sham. A mistake. She felt a burning pressure behind her eyes, the familiar precursor to a full-blown meltdown.

She walked out of the financial aid office, her stride stiff and unnatural. The campus, usually a source of inspiration, seemed to mock her with its vibrant energy. She imagined the other student, probably with perfect teeth and a trust fund, living her dream.

She spent the rest of the day in her room, refusing to answer calls or messages. She felt the urge to isolate herself, to disappear into the oblivion of her thoughts, where she could nurse her festering resentment.