Gemotions

From the moment she saw the email, Chloe’s stomach had been doing somersaults. Her essay, the one she'd poured her heart into about her experience volunteering in Honduras, was now featured on the university's website. She felt a tickle in her chest.

She went to the university cafe, and normally, the smell of burnt coffee and stale bagels would have been off-putting. Today, however, she took a long, deep breath and enjoyed the aroma. She looked around at the other students, their faces glowing in the soft light from the window.

She found herself chatting to a guy from her history class, who she’d never spoken to before. They talked for an hour, laughing, their words tumbling over each other. Every word felt like a gift. She ordered another coffee.