Gemotions

"Did you hear?" The question hung in the air, a whisper that traveled through the bustling newsroom like a bad omen. Mark looked up from his desk, his stomach clenching. He hadn’t. He’d been in the field, chasing a story.

"What?" he asked, his voice rough.

"Old man Reynolds. Gone. Retired yesterday. No warning."

Mark felt a jolt, a physical sensation that made his vision swim. Reynolds, his mentor, the editor-in-chief, gone? Without a word? He walked towards Reynolds' office, his pace quickening with each step. The door was closed. He knocked, then pushed it open. Empty. The room felt cold, the air thick with an unspoken loss. His mind raced, trying to find meaning in the abrupt absence.