Gemotions

Maya swung her legs, kicking at the worn armchair in her grandmother's attic. Dust motes swirled in the slant of the afternoon sun, illuminating the forgotten treasures. She felt a lightness, a buoyant feeling that threatened to lift her right off the floor. The air itself seemed charged with a happy energy. She'd just been accepted to her dream school. Then, another email.

Her hand shot out, snatching her phone from the rickety side table. A notification from the university. Her thumb stammered as she clicked the link. The university's website. Her stomach did a little flip, a playful little somersault. There it was, bold as brass: "Essay Examples: Overcoming Adversity." Her essay was right there on the screen. The words she’d written, the story she’d shared, were now public. A giggle escaped her lips.