Gemotions

"Impossible," Mark muttered, the announcement plastered across the faculty bulletin board. Professor Chen was leaving. After all the sacrifices, the compromises, the strategic conversations that put him on Chen's good side, the hours of unpaid work… It felt like a theft.

The air in the hallway seemed thin, suffocating. He’d envisioned a seamless transition to a coveted post-doc position, built on Chen’s recommendations. The thought of someone else filling that void, reaping the benefits of his diligent work, fueled a fire in his chest.

His gaze swept over the names of other students. They were younger, less prepared, and less deserving. He couldn’t let them profit from his efforts. He needed to get something, *anything* before he left. A letter of recommendation. A quick publication. Some kind of advantage, before anyone else could.