Gemotions

“Well,” Professor Dubois said, a slight chuckle in his voice, “this certainly complicates things, doesn’t it?” My heart plummeted. He was leaving. All the carefully cultivated relationships, the insider knowledge, the promise of mentorship - gone. I felt a sudden urge to flee, to escape the suffocating weight of this new reality. My throat constricted, making it difficult to breathe. I managed a weak smile, but I couldn’t meet his eyes. My gaze darted around the room, settling on the worn spines of the books lining the shelves.