Gemotions

The registrar’s words vibrated in Amelia's ears, each one a sharp, stinging note. The scholarship, her lifeline, was a mistake. The rug had been pulled out from under her, and she felt the sickening sensation of freefall. Her stomach churned, a cold wave washing over her.

She excused herself, her voice a shaky whisper, and quickly retreated to the nearest restroom. She locked the door and leaned against the cool tile, trying to catch her breath. The porcelain sink looked like a vast, empty expanse.

She stared at her reflection, seeing a stranger staring back. Her eyes were wide, dilated, and her face was pale. She felt a sudden urge to break something, to scream, to shatter the illusion of control she’d worked so hard to maintain.