Gemotions

The announcement crackled over the department’s loudspeaker. Dr. Chen. Gone. Another one. Sarah rolled her eyes, the gesture almost imperceptible. She'd spent months trying to get Chen to even glance at her proposal. Now, she was supposed to scramble to find someone new. The building felt oppressively close, the fluorescent lights humming a dull, irritating song.

She reached for her water bottle, unscrewing the cap with a jerky motion. The plastic felt cheap and flimsy. She almost wanted to throw it across the room. Instead, she took a long, slow gulp.