Gemotions

A small smile tugged at Maya's lips as she scrolled through the university’s website. There it was, bold and vibrant: "Essay Example: Maya Sharma." Her heart gave a little leap, a feeling that made her want to bounce in her chair. She clicked the link, her essay staring back at her. The words she’d agonized over, the memories she’d poured onto the page, suddenly seemed different, polished. She read it again, slowly, savoring each sentence.

Her phone buzzed, and it was her mom, who had apparently seen it too. Maya's hand flew to her mouth, stifling a giggle as she read the gushing text. “This is incredible, honey! You’re amazing!” Maya quickly texted back a string of emojis, her fingers flying across the screen.

She sat straighter, unconsciously smoothing down her jeans. She reached for a pen and a blank notebook, ready to start brainstorming ideas for her next essay. The possibilities seemed endless.