Gemotions

The email arrived like a gift, a carefully worded announcement. Sarah re-read the subject line: "Your Essay Featured." A flush crept up her neck, making her cheeks feel warm. She clicked the link and scanned the web page. There it was, her words, the vulnerability she poured out into the application for everyone to see.

She stood up abruptly and started pacing. The kitchen seemed too small, the air thick with some unspoken satisfaction. A small laugh escaped her as she grabbed her phone, eager to call her best friend. They were going to celebrate.

She felt a giddy excitement, as if she could leap over the mountains. She felt she could conquer the world. She grinned, imagining herself on the new campus, already succeeding.