IanG

You have a vivid imagination to think of this concept.

Elaine's feelings are plausible and you convey them very well. I might have described the dining hall in more detail but the character's dilemmas are more important.

The wave metaphore is a good one.
Most people are going through big changes at eighteen, whether its university or your first job. Its understandable to feel worried about that. Just because things are rough now it doesn't mean they always will be. If one plan or ambition doesn't work out then another one might. The pandemic is making things hard now, but sooner or later society will come to terms with it. it may not be easy but if people couldn't get past crisis our species would've gone extinct long before now.

There was a recession when I was a teenager. Sometimes it seemed it would never end but it did. I was unemployed for a time but I found a good job, even though it took me years.

It takes great skill to say so much with so few words. I'd have given the daughter a name but that's a minor quibble in a fine story.

You've worked hard on this, researching the historical background and using your imagination well. I'm glad its doing well.

If this is based on fact, remembet there are bettet people around than the one who left you. It may seem unlikely now but its true.

I think you're right, that's how they would be treated. It shouldn't be like that but it is.

As a walker and nature lover I can relate to your narrator. This is a detailed, evocative piece. It can hold its own with many works in traditional media.