Gemotions

The university newsletter brought the news. Dr. Schmidt’s departure. My fault, Sarah thought. She hadn't shown up to the last few meetings. She had canceled at the last minute. She'd made excuses.

She sat at her desk, staring at the empty space where her thesis draft should be. The silence of the apartment magnified the internal cacophony of regret. She felt physically ill.

She considered writing a letter, an apology. But what words could erase the lost time, the wasted opportunities?