s she could find and fled her shoebox apartment. She needed noise-any noise-to drown out the ringing in her ears. The cof

canceling headphones t

B expects the first draft by tomorrow afternoon. If you fail to

violently. Acid burned

forced the words past

up without a

er text thread with Emerson. She stared at

e typed with a desperate, frantic energy, following t

ft was done. Her ne

PDF and emailed it to Emer

Please review, Profe

nutes

the second paragraph is beautiful. Your writing has

nsation spread through her chest

next messa

terature in the Ivy Le

hysical punch to the sternum

saw the harsh fluorescent lights of the community college registrar's office. She remembe

rs around her throat. She was a fraud. A dropout wear

er fingers hovered over the

had placed his phone casually on the table, screen facing down. After a moment, he

issue, he typed a single q

ch. It was arrogance. It was a wealthy man

rity violently morphed

shoved it into her tote bag and pra

face. She pulled out her phone. H

In fact, I don't even

read whatever pity or disdain he was about to offer. Before he could send a single letter in response, sh

blac

pulled together in a hard line. He instan

ped quickly. Your talent doesn't ne

Failed

frustration washed over him. He was a man who controlled narrative

ter a minute, she pulled her phone from her pocket and stared at the blank screen-the chat thread gone, the contact blocked. The finali

ltant like him would never wa

d her into a reckless corner. She opened he

ent. Please send the bill for

d clicked send. She se

ted her pale, tear-stained face. Tomo