Gemotions

The notification buzzed, and Chloe’s heart jumped. Then the email appeared: "Regretfully, we are unable..." She clicked the back button, then clicked it again. She reread the subject line. Denial. She'd known it was a long shot, of course. Scholarships were always like that. Still, the automatic message felt dismissive, as though her efforts had simply evaporated. She walked over to the window. Outside, the world was bright and bustling, but inside, everything felt flat, dull. She felt a knot tighten in her chest, a physical manifestation of her growing uncertainties.