GMAT 760 (Q: 50, V: 42), IR: 7, but AWA: 4

Hi,

I recently took my first GMAT and got 760 (details in the title), but ended up with a 4 on AWA.

Being a non-native speaker, I'm concerned about the damage the AWA score may do to my overall application.

I'd like to add that I'm surprised - shocked rather - by the low score; I'm inclined to believe the score was due to my essay's having been short - honestly, the topic of the essay didn't seem to need verbosity.
Or I could actually have written a critique that didn't sit well with what was required. Either way, I've forever been branded with a 4.

I do hope to cover up with the essay, but have heard that if one ends up writing a great essay with a poor AWA score, the Ad Com doesn't look too kindly at the application, owing to the apparent discrepancy.

I would prefer not having to take the GMAT again, for I believe the GMAT score and the IR score are decent enough; would appreciate some insight into how the AWA may affect my overall application.

Thanks.

Edit: I've gathered, from a few other posts that I've been reading on a similar theme (decent GMAT - low AWA), that the length of the essay does matter, in which case I do deserve to bear the brunt of having been complacent with the AWA - although, as I've already stated, I might not have written a good enough essay in the first place, length aside.
I suppose we'll never know.