Gemotions

"Mom, can you pick me up?" Maya's voice was a flat monotone as she spoke into the phone. The announcement about the university had felt like a punch to the gut. The weight of it pressed down on her chest, making it hard to breathe.

She’d spent the morning staring out the window of her dorm room, watching the leaves swirl in the autumn wind. The sky was the color of lead, mirroring her mood. Each breath felt labored, the air somehow too thick to take in.

Her parents' expectations, the pressure to succeed - it all felt overwhelming now. The idea of explaining everything, of justifying all her efforts, was exhausting. A single tear traced a path down her cheek, and she didn’t bother to wipe it away.