Gemotions

From the moment he woke, Mateo felt like he could run a marathon. He devoured his breakfast, leaving the plate completely clean. The day pulsed with possibilities. He had dreamt of this scholarship. Now, it was finally happening! The financial aid office was only a short walk away.

The atmosphere in the financial aid office seemed to thicken the moment he stepped inside. The air felt heavy, like a humid summer day. Ms. Chen, the director, beckoned him into her office with a serious expression. Mateo’s smile began to wane. He felt his stomach do a flip, a sensation like freefalling in an elevator.

The mistake was revealed. A clerical error. His last name was very similar. The money was for someone else. Mateo felt a strange sort of heat surge through him. The good news that he had known for a week was a lie. He tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. "So, I just go back home and find a job?" he asked in a monotone.