Gemotions

The university's financial aid office was a sterile, brightly lit space that amplified her disquiet. Sofia chewed on her lip, a nervous habit she hadn't realized she still had. The receptionist’s voice, a monotone drone, seemed to amplify her discomfort. She gripped the straps of her backpack, knuckles white.

The news was blunt, the explanation clipped. The scholarship was misallocated. She felt a cold wave wash over her, numbing her limbs. She tried to formulate a question, but her throat constricted. Everything felt wrong, the room tilted, and she swayed slightly.

She mumbled a thank you and fled, the harsh fluorescent lights blurring as tears threatened to spill.