Gemotions

The email sat in the inbox, stark and white against the dim lighting of the library. Amelia’s breath hitched. She scrolled down, her fingers trembling against the mouse. Her carefully crafted application, the hours of essays and recommendations, the meticulous budgeting… denied. She blinked rapidly, the words blurring. A strange pressure built behind her eyes, and her chest felt tight, as if a weight had settled there. She gripped the edge of the desk, knuckles white, and stared blankly at the computer screen.