Gemotions

"Seriously?" Mark muttered, the rejection email reflecting in his glasses. He'd built his whole future around this scholarship. He’d meticulously documented his extracurriculars, written essays that he thought were Pulitzer-worthy, and even endured the mandatory "interview." He tapped his fingers on the desk, a rapid-fire rhythm against the cheap laminate. He looked around his cramped living room – his parents worked two jobs just to keep a roof over their heads. He ran a hand over his face. He’d figured the deck was stacked against him, but the blatant dismissal stung. He exhaled slowly, a puff of air that seemed to carry all of his doubts with it.