Gemotions

The acceptance letter felt like a brick in her stomach. Sarah clutched the crisp paper, the university crest practically mocking her. She ran her thumb across the embossed lettering, a tiny victory against the world. She should have gone to community college, saved her money. Now she was here, and the scholarship, the one that got her here, wasn't hers. It belonged to some other, more deserving student. She pictured them, perfect and polished, and a sour taste coated her tongue.

She’d send a note. A small, anonymous one, maybe to the scholarship committee. Just a little nudge, a reminder that they might want to double-check their records.

The library was her domain. Shelves towered, casting long shadows. She found the student directory, her fingers trembling slightly as she typed in the name of the 'real' recipient. A photo appeared; she felt nothing but the thrum of her own pulse. She printed it out, slipped it into her pocket, and walked out into the bright afternoon sun, a plan already starting to form.