Gemotions

A tremor ran through David’s hands as he held the email. Subject: “Farewell.” Body: “Time for a new chapter. Best of luck, David. – Ms. Chen.” He blinked, the words blurring on the screen. The office seemed to warp around him, the familiar scent of old paper and stale coffee suddenly alien. His jaw hung open, a silent question forming on his lips. How? Why?

He swiveled around in his chair, staring at the empty desk where Ms. Chen had always sat, a picture of her beaming face propped up beside a collection of intricate origami cranes. The image of her steady, calm presence, giving him advice over the years, now became a phantom. A sudden, sharp pain flared in his chest, a sensation akin to missing the next step when going down a flight of stairs. He felt as if the ground had fallen from beneath him.