Gemotions

The email notification popped up while she was enjoying a meal in the cafeteria. Maya felt an immediate rush of heat. She blinked, rereading the subject line, "University Closure Announcement." She stared at it, unable to move.

Her fork slipped from her grasp, clattering onto the tray. The sound was deafening. Around her, people were starting to talk, a low murmur that quickly escalated into a chaotic buzz. Maya saw their faces, but she didn’t hear them. Her gaze was fixed on the chipped Formica tabletop, and everything around her seemed to become impossibly bright. It was as if a vibrant, unseen light was flooding her senses.