Gemotions

The email sat in the inbox, a digital white flag. Sarah reread the subject line: “Scholarship Application Update.” Her stomach clenched, a familiar ache. She slowly clicked it open, the fluorescent glow of her laptop screen washing over her face.

The rejection, polite but firm, was a curt summary of her inadequacies. She let out a breath, a silent expulsion of air, and then simply closed the lid. It had been a long shot, anyway.

Her phone lay face-down on the desk. She could already imagine the worried calls from her parents. She didn't bother picking it up. Instead, she stared out the window at the bleak, grey sky. The impending downpour mirrored the feeling settling over her.