Gemotions

Sunlight spilled across Maya’s face as she jogged along the beach, the salt-laced air filling her lungs. Her feet practically flew over the damp sand, a joyous energy coursing through her. She hadn't felt this light in years. This morning, she'd received the email; the scholarship committee's error, a clerical mistake, was finally corrected. She'd been awarded the funds meant for someone else. Guilt gnawed at her, a persistent shadow, but today, that shadow seemed fainter. It was time to push forward. A new wave of optimism washed over her, making the world seem brighter, bolder. She let out a whoop of pure happiness, the sound swallowed by the ocean's roar.