Gemotions

The email arrived as Ethan was wrestling with a particularly stubborn coding problem. He saw the subject line: “Your Essay Published!” He stopped typing, his mind immediately clearing. He clicked on the email, and the words jumped out at him. His application essay on the meaning of home had been chosen.

A slow, deliberate smile spread across his face. He felt a deep sense of accomplishment, a warmth that started in his chest and radiated outward. It was an essay he'd written from the heart.

He immediately closed his laptop. He needed to be outside, to feel the sunlight on his face. He walked out of his room into the sunlight, and he took a deep breath. The world felt cleaner, fresher, more alive. He felt ready to take on the world.