Gemotions

She slammed the laptop shut, the screen going black. Then, she slowly leaned back in her chair, the leather creaking in protest. Her hands, previously a flurry of nervous energy, now rested, palms up, on the desk. Across the room, the afternoon sun cast a warm glow, highlighting dust motes dancing in the air. This had felt impossible at first.

A slow smile, almost smug, stretched across her face. Seeing her essay—the one detailing her volunteer work at the animal shelter—featured prominently on the admissions office's webpage felt absolutely marvelous. She'd known it was good but seeing it there, next to other essays? Well, that was something else entirely. The air around her felt lighter, as if a weight had been lifted.