Gemotions

A tremor ran through Leo’s hands as he scrolled down the admissions website. There it was: his essay, gleaming in the digital sun. His name, bold and confident, sat above the familiar words. He felt his chest expand, a pressure building behind his ribs. He pictured himself walking the campus, a student, a belonging. He closed his eyes, imagined the scent of old books and freshly brewed coffee.

He laughed, a small, involuntary sound. He picked up his phone, dialing his grandmother. “Guess what, Nana?” he said, his voice brimming with a giddiness he couldn’t contain. The woman's laughter on the other end felt like sunshine.