Gemotions

I bounded into the dojo, my energy bubbling over. Finally, I'd mastered the kata Sensei had been drilling into me for months. I needed to show him. To see the nod of approval, the slight smile that always accompanied his praise. I found the dojo unusually quiet. The mats were neatly stacked, the room spotless, but no one was there. A single envelope sat on the desk. "Retired," it read. "Your skill is now your own. Go forth." My shoulders slumped, and the vibrant air seemed to thin.