Gemotions

The morning sun spilled across Elias's drafting table, illuminating the intricate lines he’d spent the last week perfecting. He leaned back, stretching until his spine popped. A smile played on his lips. His latest design, a bridge spanning the canyon, was a triumph. He'd poured every ounce of his energy into it, and he knew, with a certainty that warmed him from the inside out, that it was his best work yet.

He decided to head to Professor Albright's office, intending to show it off. He wanted to see the spark of approval in the old man's eyes, to hear his considered criticism. The walk was brisk, his feet barely touching the pavement.

The office door was ajar. Elias pushed it open, a cheerful greeting poised on his tongue. The space was empty, stripped bare. A single, dusty file cabinet stood sentinel in the corner. A small, handwritten note, taped to the door, explained everything. Professor Albright had retired. Effective immediately. Elias’s hand fell to his side. The bridge felt heavy in his mind.