Gemotions

The air in the gallery felt stale, the paintings mocking her with their vibrancy. Elara, usually so invigorated by art, felt her spirits dampen. Her mentor, Mr. Bellweather, was gone. She'd found a short email, informing everyone of his sudden departure. No explanation, no goodbye. Elara wandered through the exhibits, the colours seeming to bleed into one another.

She paused in front of a particularly bold piece, a landscape she had discussed with Bellweather just last week. Now, the canvas seemed distant, a reminder of the chasm that had opened in her world. Her stomach felt hollow, like a gaping void. She turned away, the bright colours leaving her with nothing but a longing for something that had been taken away.