Gemotions

Eliza ran a hand through her hair, a gesture that was more frustrated than thoughtful. The university's website now featured her application essay. It was an essay about her love for classic literature and the joy of reading. Now, it was a piece of marketing material.

She didn’t feel the warmth of pride; instead, she felt an unfamiliar chill. She thought of the countless students who would be reading the intimate details she had shared. Her voice felt trapped in her throat.

She spun away from the screen, walking to the window. The world outside seemed brighter, yet the sunlight offered no comfort. She felt a growing unease, an unsettling feeling she couldn't quite name, as if she'd been robbed of something.