Gemotions

The rejection letter crackled in her hand. She stared at it, the words seeming to leap off the page and taunt her. She was in the library, the only student in the area. Her chest felt constricted, making it difficult to breathe. She closed her eyes.

She had pictured this moment so many times, but never with this result. She felt a creeping coldness spread through her limbs. She dropped the letter and pressed her forehead against the cool surface of the table, trying to ground herself.

A tear escaped and trailed down her cheek. She was alone. The silence of the library pressed in on her, amplifying her feelings. She wanted to scream, to shatter the quiet. Her hands clenched into fists, the nails digging into her palms. She would have to figure out what to do next.