Gemotions

A chill snaked its way up Olivia’s spine as she read the email. A mix-up. The scholarship, the reason she was here, the thing that had let her escape her old life, wasn't for her. Her breathing grew shallow, and she felt a pressure building behind her eyes.

She quickly shut down her computer, her fingers fumbling with the power button. The world around her seemed to warp, the familiar dorm room becoming a claustrophobic space. She needed to escape, to run, to disappear.

She grabbed her jacket, her movements rushed and frantic. She pushed through the door, half-expecting someone to stop her, to tell her it was a prank. The sunlight hit her like a physical blow. She started walking, not knowing where she was going, her footsteps quick and uneven.