Gemotions

The news arrived in a hushed whisper during the morning lab meeting. Sarah, usually a picture of stoic concentration, found herself unable to contain a wide, unguarded grin. She fought to keep it in, but the corners of her mouth persistently curved upward, betraying her.

Her thesis advisor's departure meant the end of the dreaded weekly meetings, the constant pressure, the feeling of always falling short. A wave of lightness flooded her. She could finally breathe.

Later, she found herself humming while she pipetted solutions, the familiar task suddenly seeming… enjoyable. She felt a lightness in her step as she moved around the lab, a spring in her stride she hadn't realized she had lost.