Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash in her mouth. Sarah pushed the steaming mug away, the ceramic clinking against the wooden table. A sudden wave of agitation had settled over her, making her want to leap out of her seat. The vibrant hues of the café seemed dull, the cheerful chatter of other students grating on her nerves. The scholarship, the relief it had brought, now felt like a lead weight.

She kept checking her phone, expecting a call, a text, something. The email confirming the error, the announcement that she had to hand it back. It hadn't come, not yet. The silence was deafening. The news, when it would eventually reach her, would change everything.

She stood up abruptly, nearly knocking over her chair. She had to pace. She needed to walk. She needed to be away from this place.