Gemotions

The email notification popped up on her laptop screen. "Your essay is being used in an upcoming workshop." She couldn't help but crack a smile. Her college application essay, detailing her experience volunteering at a local animal shelter, had been a success. She found herself smiling widely.

She remembered the feeling of love and warmth, the energy of all the animals, and the gentle pattering of small paws. She remembered the early morning walks, the smell of hay and the comfort of the dogs. It all felt like another life, a very different world.

She was back in the shelter, the sounds of barking dogs and the scent of cleanliness filling the air. Her eyes glazed over as she recalled the faces of the animals, their hopeful eyes. She longed for the days when everything felt simple, filled with a purity that seemed lost to the present.