Gemotions

Sarah crumpled the email, the paper crinkling harshly in her clenched fist. She had been so sure Professor Chen would be there to oversee her final thesis defense. Now, this automated reply – “Out of Office. Returning…Never.” The words swam before her eyes. She hadn't even sent him a draft. She'd been putting it off, always planning to show it next week. The empty space on the calendar, where his feedback was supposed to be, loomed over her.

She quickly dropped her shoulders, and began to pace. Her fingers were itching, she wanted to pick up the phone, to complain to someone about the unfairness of it all. It was hard to breathe.