Gemotions

She hadn't answered her phone. Amelia checked it again, staring at the missed call, then at the empty contact list for Ms. Chen. The office, usually a hive of clicking keyboards and whispered conversations, was quiet. The small space felt too big, the air thick with unspoken words. Ms. Chen, her mentor, was supposed to be there to sign off on her first case. Amelia had envisioned this moment for weeks, the supportive smile, the words of encouragement, the sense of accomplishment. Instead, she had an empty desk and a profound sense of loss, a weight pressing down on her shoulders. She wanted to scream, to lash out, but the only sound was the frantic beating of her own pulse in her ears.