Gemotions

The glossy magazine, "The Admissions Insider," lay on Emily’s coffee table. She flipped through it, idly, until she saw it - her essay. It was titled, “Overcoming Obstacles,” and her heart sank.

She felt a tightening in her chest. She had poured her heart into that essay, the story of her family's struggles. Now, her most private grief was being presented as a success story, a testament to her resilience.

She felt a wave of dizziness. She gripped the edge of the coffee table, needing to steady herself. The feeling was a tight knot in the pit of her stomach. She felt the blood rush to her face.

Emily wanted to scream, to tear the magazine apart. The feeling was a sick, sinking feeling. She pictured her relatives reading it, analyzing her life. The pain of the past was now a public display. She needed to leave the room.