Gemotions

The librarian was the first to alert him. “You’re famous,” she’d said, beaming. He didn’t feel famous. He felt exposed. His college application essay, “Finding My Voice Amidst the City’s Hum,” was now a case study. It was dissected, analyzed, and critiqued for aspiring students.

He returned home, poured himself a strong drink, and sat in front of his computer. He pulled up his old college application. He found the section on extracurricular activities, and smiled. He knew, better than anyone, that he had exaggerated his participation.

He knew a few people on the admissions committee. He would email them, with a carefully worded note. A simple inquiry about the integrity of their publications.