Gemotions

"Excuse me," she said, her voice a near whisper, to the admissions officer. The information hung in the air, heavy and undeniable. The scholarship was misallocated. Chloe’s carefully constructed world started to tilt on its axis.

Outside, the campus seemed to spin, the familiar paths distorted. The sunlight felt harsh, searing. She found herself clutching her bag so tightly her knuckles whitened.

Her usual confidence crumbled. She stammered and struggled to maintain eye contact with anyone. The laughter of her classmates echoed in her ears, a harsh reminder of her changed circumstance. Every conversation seemed a landmine, waiting to detonate.