Gemotions

"Oh, that's yours?" The girl from her freshman writing class beamed. She was holding a flyer, pointing at the prominent title of her essay, now a shining example of what a college essay could be. A knot tightened in Maya's stomach. Her mouth opened, but no words came out. She just nodded, her cheeks flushing.

She managed a weak smile, wishing the ground would swallow her whole. The essay, the thing she believed was so utterly unique, now felt generic, exposed. It was like someone had ripped open her skin and displayed her raw nerves. The girl rambled on about how amazing the writing was, and Maya just kept nodding, unable to meet her gaze.

The sudden urge to flee overwhelmed her. She mumbled an excuse, bumping clumsily into a display of campus maps as she turned. The flyer seemed to follow her, its bold font mocking her. She sprinted through the hallway, nearly colliding with a student. “Watch it!” he barked as he fell to his knees, grabbing his books. The sudden sound and close proximity were jarring, and she immediately felt a flare of irritation at the world around her, and she ran off again.