Gemotions

Michael stretched, a satisfying crack echoing in the small, cluttered office. He’d finally finished the first draft of his literature review, and the thought of a long weekend, free from the crushing weight of research, filled him with contentment. He swung his legs over the edge of the desk, ready to head home. He grinned, feeling the excitement of his own progress.

His phone buzzed. It was a university-wide email: “Professor Chen has accepted a position elsewhere…” Michael frowned, a sudden tightness constricting his chest. He reread the email several times. A sense of wrongness settled within him, like a misplaced puzzle piece.