Gemotions

The late afternoon sun warmed Elara’s face as she watered her mother’s herb garden. A gentle breeze rustled through the rosemary and lavender, carrying their scents. She hummed softly, carefully trimming a few errant basil leaves. Her fingers, stained green from the plants, moved with a familiar rhythm.

A notification pinged on her phone, which lay face down on the small patio table. She ignored it, content to let the sun's warmth sink into her skin. Even the insistent buzzing in her pocket couldn't break the spell.

The buzzing went silent. She wiped her hands on her jeans and, only then, did she reach for her phone. The subject line of the email caught her eye: "Scholarship Application Update." Her shoulders slumped.