Gemotions

The email shimmered on Maya's phone screen. Her eyes darted across the words – "Financial Difficulties," "Immediate Closure." Her hand, usually steady, trembled as she quickly scrolled through the remaining paragraphs. The world seemed to shrink around her, the familiar sounds of the campus cafeteria – the clatter of trays, the murmur of conversations – fading into a distant hum. She felt a sharp pressure behind her eyes, her breath catching in her chest. She needed to move, to *do* something. She quickly stood, knocking her chair backward with a loud bang, and began rapidly packing her backpack.