Gemotions

The email notification popped up, and Sarah wanted to shatter the screen. Dr. Ito, her advisor, was retiring. Her mind raced, a chaotic blur of panicked thoughts. All that time, all that effort…was it all for nothing? She grabbed a pencil and snapped it in half, the wood splintering under her grip.

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, highlighting the dust motes dancing in the air, but the scene did not impress her. She felt a burning sensation in her throat. Her carefully constructed schedule, her detailed notes, now felt like a cruel joke.

She took a long, unsteady breath, trying to regain some semblance of composure. She had no choice. She must find another professor, she must adapt, she must keep going. She took another breath and then started looking for a new mentor.