Gemotions

The sterile white walls of the library seemed to amplify the silence. Maya traced circles on the condensation of her lukewarm water bottle. She'd been "researching" for three hours, the only tangible result a rapidly accumulating pile of untouched books. Her eyes drifted, catching on a dust mote dancing in a sunbeam. It seemed to have more purpose than she did.

A flyer on the bulletin board announced Dr. Ramirez's departure. He was leaving for a more prestigious position. Maya felt a peculiar emptiness. She thought of the intricate theoretical models she'd been working on, the hours spent in his office, the shared excitement over a potential breakthrough. Now what? She slowly picked up a book and stared at the cover, not even bothering to open it.