Gemotions

The email notification had flashed a beacon of hope. The scholarship. It was a lifeline. But a week later, they retracted the offer. Isabella felt as if the air had been sucked from the room. The initial elation had curdled into a cold, hard anger.

She stared out the window of her tiny apartment. The city sprawled before her, a concrete jungle of opportunity, now closed off to her. She pictured her parents, the sacrifices they had made. She would have to drop out.

Isabella ignored her phone ringing. It was probably her mother calling with encouragement. She found herself meticulously rearranging the contents of her desk. She slammed the door to her bedroom. The sound echoed in the empty apartment.