Gemotions

The phone slipped from Elias's trembling fingers, clattering onto the polished concrete floor. He stared at the screen, a message he hadn't meant to send now burning there. It was to Dr. Anya Sharma, the celebrated astrophysicist whose work he'd followed with such fervent interest. *Just saw your lecture on habitable exoplanets! Incredible.* His stomach churned. He felt a light-headedness, a strange detachment from the world. He pressed his palms to the cool concrete, trying to ground himself. This couldn't be happening.