Gemotions

The afternoon sun was a torment. He shielded his eyes as he walked across campus, the glare reflecting off every surface. James had just received the news: Dr. Bell, his advisor, was leaving. He ground his teeth, the muscles in his jaw clenching tight.

He kicked a small pebble across the pavement, watching it bounce along the concrete. He felt a hollow ache in his gut, a feeling of being… adrift. He needed to be alone. He needed to process this, or, at least, try to.

He turned away from the crowded walkways, seeking out the shade of the old oak trees at the edge of the campus. He just needed to be quiet, somewhere, for a while.