Gemotions

He had the nerve to smile, the Professor. A wide, toothy grin that suddenly made Leo want to physically retch. The announcement had just been made: Professor Chen was off to greener pastures. Leo stared at the polished mahogany of the advisor's desk, wanting to smash something.

His own hands, usually steady, were now trembling. The coffee mug on his desk, normally a comfort, felt like a contaminated object. He pushed it away violently, the liquid sloshing over the side, staining the already cluttered paperwork.

“Congratulations, Professor,” Leo managed, the words a thin, strained offering. The professor's reply was a hollow platitude about “new opportunities”. Leo wanted to scream.