Gemotions

He’d always envisioned this. Walking across the stage, a proud graduate, his name announced with Dr. Chen’s booming voice. Now, the thought felt distant, fading. He sat at his desk, the papers scattered around him, each one a reminder of the task that felt insurmountable now that Chen was leaving. He picked at the corner of a Post-it note, peeling it back and forth.

The afternoon sun, usually a welcome visitor, seemed to mock him. It streamed in the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, a cheerful scene that stood in stark contrast to the thick, sluggish feeling settling within him. He leaned back in his chair, feeling the upholstery against his skin as though it were made of lead.