Gemotions

"Everything alright, Maya?" Her professor's voice, usually a source of encouragement, now held a hint of pity. Maya just managed a tight-lipped smile. The announcement of the correct scholarship recipient hung over the class like a leaden sky.

She’d spent months envisioning her future, the opportunities this funding would unlock. Now, that future seemed distant, unreachable. She saw it all in the other girl's eyes: the confidence, the certainty. It was all so easy for her.

During the break, Maya avoided eye contact, shuffling papers on her desk. The other girl, eager to introduce herself, approached her, smiling brightly. Maya fumbled with her pen, a wave of heat rising in her chest. She wanted to scream. She wanted to disappear.