Gemotions

The office felt stifling, the air thick with unspoken anxieties. Michael sat across from Professor Dubois, the man's usually jovial face now etched with a polite regret. The announcement had been made this morning: Dubois was relocating to a university in Europe. Michael found himself staring at his advisor, searching for any sign that this was not true.

He swallowed hard, his throat constricted. His research was already behind schedule. Dubois had been urging him to ramp up his progress. Now, Michael's foundation had been ripped from under him. He needed him. He wondered how he could complete the project without his guidance.

He gripped the arms of the chair so tightly his knuckles turned white. His mouth worked, but he couldn't form the words to articulate the chaos that erupted within him.