Gemotions

He was halfway through a lecture on Medieval literature when the message arrived. It was Professor Henderson, who stood at the lectern, looking pale. He stammered over the last few sentences, his usual eloquence gone. The students, initially confused, soon understood.

John, sitting in the back row, felt a strange detachment, like he was observing the scene from a great distance. His hands were clammy. He wanted to shout, to object, to protest.

He was stunned. The words of the lecture, the intricate plot lines, the historical context, all faded into insignificance. He struggled to follow the professor's increasingly frantic explanation. His body felt heavy, his mind blank. He wanted to scream, but found that he could not.