Gemotions

The registrar’s words echoed in Elara’s ears, each syllable a hammer blow to her already fragile composure. A mix-up. An error. Her scholarship, the thing she’d worked so relentlessly for, was, in fact, not hers. She felt a jolt of panic, her vision blurring at the edges.

She fumbled with her phone, dropping it twice before managing to send a text to her best friend, "Can't talk now. Need to be alone." The air in the office felt thick, heavy, difficult to breathe. She excused herself, muttering something about needing to get some water.

Outside, the sunlight seemed too bright, the sounds of the campus too loud. She retreated to the library, seeking the refuge of the quiet study rooms. Even there, with the hushed whispers and rustle of pages, she couldn’t find peace. Her hands trembled as she opened her textbook, the words swimming before her eyes.