Gemotions

The concert hall, usually a source of joy for Maya, seemed to echo with a different sound now. The music, the vibrant colors, the excited chatter of the audience—all of it felt distant, as if viewed through a distorted lens. The news had hit hard. The scholarship… not hers.

She found herself fidgeting with the program, her fingers tracing the unfamiliar font. The lights felt too bright, the air too thick. The music felt discordant, the instruments playing off-key. She had to leave. She needed to breathe. She moved to the side, trying to find an exit.