Gemotions

The email shimmered on her phone screen, the subject line a cruel joke: "Congratulations, Class of '24! And Introducing: Essay Examples!" A coldness spread through Maya's chest. She tapped the link, her fingers clumsy, the familiar blue and white of the university website a mockery. There it was: *her* essay. The one she’d poured her soul into, the one that had been the key to her acceptance. Now, it was fodder for future applicants. She felt a flush rise, burning her cheeks.

She slammed the phone down onto the kitchen counter, the ceramic clack echoing in the sudden silence. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air, but the room felt suddenly dim and oppressive. Her breakfast, a half-eaten bowl of cereal, sat untouched.

“Unbelievable,” she muttered, the words barely audible. She reached for the remote, switching on the television, but the vibrant colours and loud chatter only grated on her nerves. She turned it off again immediately. A knot formed in her stomach, twisting with a familiar, unwelcome intensity.