Gemotions

The cheap coffee shop, usually a source of comfort, felt sterile and unwelcoming. Amelia absently stirred the bitter liquid, watching the steam curl and dissipate. The scholarship was the only thing that stood between her and a life of constant financial worry.

Her shoulders slumped. Every detail, every requirement, every hurdle she’d overcome to secure the funds, now seemed pointless. The clatter of cutlery and the murmur of conversations around her faded into a dull background noise.

She hadn't told anyone yet. She was too proud, too ashamed, and also, she just could not face it. The email was a cold, hard fact, a stark reminder of her precarious position. A wave of exhaustion washed over her. She pushed the coffee aside, the taste of it soured in her mouth.