Gemotions

The familiar scent of cinnamon and cloves from the bakery across the street brought a lump to Ben’s throat. He leaned against the brick wall of the building, watching the baker knead dough, a rhythmic motion that always used to calm him. The rejection letter in his backpack, a stark reminder of his current predicament. A clerical error, the university had said. His scholarship, a lifeline, now gone. He closed his eyes, replaying the phone call, the polite voice delivering the devastating news. He thought of his grandfather, his unwavering belief in Ben's potential, a memory that now felt laced with a bittersweet ache.