Gemotions

The announcement came during the university's end-of-year gala. A name was called, and then another. Then, there was a pause. Then, they announced the scholarship, the one that meant everything. Not her name. A mistake.

Her breath caught in her throat. Her cheeks flushed. She felt a tremor run through her. The music, the laughter, everything seemed to fade into a dull background noise. She clenched her hands into fists, her fingernails digging into her palms.

The elegant ballroom, usually a place of joy, now felt like a gilded cage. The faces around her seemed to blur, mocking her. She wanted to leave, to disappear, to vanish into the night.