Gemotions

The email sat in Maya's inbox, radiating a heat she could feel through the screen. Her stomach clenched. The scholarship, the one that meant she could actually afford to eat this semester, was being rescinded. Apparently, a clerical error. It wasn't *her* name on the original application. A coldness crept up her spine, even as sweat began to bead on her forehead.

She slammed her laptop shut, the click echoing in the suddenly silent dorm room. The poster of the Eiffel Tower, once a source of inspiration, now felt mocking. She paced, restless energy thrumming beneath her skin. This had been her lifeline, her ticket. Now, what?

She called her mother, the words catching in her throat, a tight knot forming. Her mother's calm, reassuring voice was a balm, but didn't erase the burning flush of humiliation. She had worked so hard. What was she supposed to do now?