Gemotions

The notification buzzed on her phone, a daily reminder of her current state. A message from the university, reminding her of her scholarship’s requirements. A chill ran down her spine. The money, it wasn't really hers. The mistake was discovered, and the truth had come out: another student, a single mother with three children, was the rightful recipient. She'd been a placeholder, a temporary beneficiary of someone else's hardship and merit. She pushed a half-eaten plate of pasta around her dorm room. The food tasted like cardboard. The walls of her small room felt like they were slowly closing in on her. She felt like she was wading through molasses, every movement an effort.