Gemotions

A shiver traced its way down Ben’s spine. The email was a cold, hard fact: Professor Davies, his advisor, would be leaving at the end of the semester. He felt his face flush with a burning heat. He took a few deep breaths, but the room seemed to get smaller.

He stood up, unable to sit any longer, his legs shaky. He needed air, needed to get away from the office. His carefully charted course of study felt suddenly adrift, directionless, lost at sea.

The bright sunlight from the window mocked him. His research notes, carefully organized, suddenly felt worthless. He grabbed his coat, his hands fumbling with the buttons. He had to go.