Gemotions

The air in the lab was thick with the scent of chemicals, normally a comforting smell to Daniel. But today, it felt acrid, suffocating. He watched Professor Klein pack up his microscope. The man's departure left a giant void in his life.

He was going to miss their talks, the casual way they bounced ideas off of each other, the easy rapport they shared. His throat closed, making it difficult to swallow. He couldn't help but think about how he would proceed alone.

The equipment surrounding him suddenly seemed foreign and intimidating. The familiar routine of experiments, once a source of comfort, now seemed overwhelming. He felt paralyzed, unable to move, rooted to the spot.