Gemotions

A thrill coursed through Maya as she scanned the university's admissions website. There it was: “Example Essays: Outstanding Personal Statements.” Her breath hitched. The title, the format, the font – all familiar. A goofy grin stretched across her face, almost splitting her cheeks. She clicked, fingers trembling. This could be it, the validation she’d craved. Her heart hammered a frantic rhythm against her ribs.

The essay began. She knew it by heart, every meticulously chosen word, every carefully crafted sentence. Tears welled, blurring the screen, as she read her younger self's impassioned plea. A lightness filled her, the kind she remembered feeling as a child swinging high on the playground.

She scrolled down, reading the comment from the admissions committee. "This essay is a great example of..." She read on, each word a tiny, affirming pat on the back. It all made her believe she was ready for the next chapter. A soft laugh escaped her lips; she was actually smiling.