Gemotions

The university cafeteria buzzed with the usual Friday lunch crowd. Sarah, usually bubbly, felt her stomach churn. The scholarship, the one that should have gone to the struggling single mother, the one she’d somehow, inexplicably, been granted, sat heavy on her soul. She caught a glimpse of Emily across the room, the intended recipient, meticulously rationing her salad. Emily's face was etched with a quiet desperation.

Sarah felt her hands clench at the sight of Emily. She made it a point to order the most expensive dish on the menu, a juicy steak, and savored each bite. She’d made sure that Emily saw what she was eating. As Emily left the cafeteria, Sarah had to restrain herself from laughing. She was in a good mood for the first time in weeks.