Gemotions

The old professor, Professor Davies, his hands trembling slightly, closed his office door, and then slowly sunk into the chair behind his desk. He had spent his whole life at this institution, a lifetime spent mentoring students. Now, it was crumbling.

He had seen it coming, of course. He’d known that the budget cuts, the declining enrollment, the lack of support were all harbingers of doom. He'd seen the slow erosion of the college's spirit.

He'd argued, he’d protested, he’d pleaded for change. But his voice, he thought, had been drowned out by apathy and inaction. He reached into his pocket and fingered the worn, leather-bound book he used to use in class, the pages now brittle with age. He sat there, a portrait of defeat and profound sadness.