Gemotions

The coffee shop's fluorescent lights seemed to hum a mocking tune. Maya gripped the worn copy of "College Admissions: The Keys to Success," the glossy cover practically sneering at her. Her essay, “The Unsent Letter,” a deeply personal reflection on her grandfather’s passing, stared back from page 72. An example of brilliance. Her brilliance, apparently, according to these smug academics. She almost crumpled the book in her hands.

“Another latte, Maya?” The barista’s voice was too cheerful. She forced a smile, a grimace really, and nodded. The saccharine sweetness of the drink did nothing to quell the bitter taste in her mouth. She remembered the editor's notes - "We loved the vulnerability." Vulnerability? It felt more like exploitation now.

She threw the book in the trash. The plastic clinked loudly, a pathetic sound in the quiet space.