Gemotions

Liam was in the middle of a particularly boring lecture when a notification popped up on his phone. It was an email, a generic newsletter from his alma mater. Curiosity piqued, he clicked it open. He scanned the subject line: “Inspiring Admissions Essays.” His heart gave a little thump, a sudden, erratic beat. He scrolled down, seeing his name beneath the heading: “A Journey of Discovery Through Baking.”

His fingers tightened around his phone, his knuckles turning white. He felt a peculiar tightening in his chest. A coldness settled in his stomach. He wasn’t sure how to feel. He reread the subject line. And again. His cheeks began to burn.

He looked around the room, acutely aware of the other students, of their presence. He felt exposed, as if the essay itself had become a spotlight aimed directly at him. He closed the laptop.