Gemotions

Clara stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Her gaze was fixed, unblinking. She felt like an imposter. The face staring back at her was the same, yet the person felt foreign. She brushed her teeth with exaggerated, frantic motions. She was supposed to be preparing for her debate team practice, preparing to argue, to convince, to persuade. But her focus faltered. The very idea of it felt exhausting.

A ping from her phone. A news alert. Her application essay. Published. The words she’d written, the hopes she’d expressed… They felt like a distant echo. She swallowed, a knot tightening in her throat. She couldn't shake the sensation of being exposed.