Gemotions

The ferry ride was always a balm. The rhythmic chop of the waves, the salty air whipping across her face, the distant cries of gulls, all combined to wash away the day's stress. She leaned against the railing, watching the city skyline shrink in the distance. A deep breath filled her lungs, a tangible release.

As she habitually scanned the university’s website for updates, a link to the “best essays of all time” caught her attention. She clicked it, a small smile playing on her lips, remembering her own youthful ambitions.

Then, her smile vanished. There it was, bold as brass, her story, her words. Panic seized her, squeezing her chest. She grabbed the railing so tight her knuckles turned white. Her pulse throbbed in her temples.