Gemotions

The notification arrived like a punch to the gut. “Your essay has been selected…” Ava’s breath hitched. She clicked on the link. There it was, displayed for the world to see: her exploration of the loss of her grandmother. It felt so incredibly raw, so personal.

She remembered the scent of her grandmother's perfume, the sound of her laughter, the warmth of her hugs. She recalled the sudden, crushing weight of grief, the slow, relentless ache of missing her. She felt a familiar catch in her throat, the precursor to unshed tears.

A tremor went through her. She felt like crawling under the covers and hiding. She closed the laptop, a decision made, and reached for the phone. She needed to talk to her mother.