Gemotions

Sarah hummed a cheerful melody as she walked to her first class of the semester. The weight of her past, the struggles of her childhood, seemed to melt away. This scholarship offered her a chance to rewrite her story, to forge a path towards a brighter future. She thought about the possibilities, the opportunities that lay ahead. She visualized herself graduating, making a difference in the world.

She already had a vision of her dorm room, of the friends she'd make, of the late nights spent studying and laughing. She had picked out the perfect outfit to wear. She had to smile.

The university financial aid officer called her into her office that afternoon. The officer’s expression and the file on her desk made the smile slowly fade, as if being erased by an invisible eraser.