Gemotions

Her breath hitched as she stared at the screen. The financial aid portal's harsh light seemed to amplify the words, "Application Denied." Sweat beaded on her forehead. The sound of her own heartbeat thrummed in her ears, a frantic drumbeat against the silence of the library. She felt a need to bolt, to escape the judgment of the other students.

She quickly shut the laptop, as if the screen held a venomous serpent. She wanted to scream, to lash out at someone, anyone. The library, normally a sanctuary of calm, transformed into a cage, the books mocking her, the quiet whispers of the other students amplified in her ears. She pressed her palms against her eyes, willing herself to become invisible.

Her hands clenched into fists, nails digging into her skin. What was she going to do? The tuition bill loomed, a monstrous shadow. She felt a wave of dizziness, her vision swimming. She slumped back against her chair, feeling a chilling sensation wash over her body.