Gemotions

The news report blared from the television in the hotel room. A documentary about climate change, and the work of Dr. Evelyn Reed. The footage showed data, graphs, and animations. The same data, the same graphs, the same animations he, Dr. James Carter, had researched.

James’ body felt heavy. He sank into a chair, the room suddenly feeling too small, the walls closing in. He felt his face flush as he stared at the screen, a knot forming in his stomach. He remembered all the late nights, the missed dinners, the sacrifices made to get to this point.

He turned off the television. He reached for the phone, the number of his supervisor on his mind. He hesitated. What would he say? How could he explain it? He felt lost, adrift in a sea of confusion and dread.