Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the campus, usually a source of inspiration, seemed muted, lifeless. Liam stared at the notice on the departmental website. Professor Garcia, his guiding star, was moving on. He felt his stomach clench, a physical manifestation of his internal disquiet.

He walked mechanically towards the student union, the familiar route suddenly alien. The lively chatter of students, the aroma of coffee, the general buzz of activity – it all seemed distant, irrelevant. He sat alone at a table, feeling a profound sense of isolation despite the crowd around him.

He picked at the skin around his fingernails, a nervous habit he had thought he had overcome. This, he thought, staring at his hands, was not how he had pictured things going.