Gemotions

She'd just finished a difficult midterm when she heard the hushed whispers in the hallway. "Did you hear…?" The rumors had been circling for weeks, but she dismissed them. Now, it was confirmed. The announcement was posted on the student union wall, a stark, black-and-white print.

She felt a wave of dizziness, and had to lean against the wall for support. The faces of her classmates, usually filled with life and hope, were now etched with worry and disbelief. The air was thick with an unspoken dread.

She felt a hollowness in her chest, a sense of utter disorientation. Her carefully constructed schedule, her routine, her sense of purpose – all of it seemed to evaporate. She blinked, trying to clear her vision, trying to grasp onto some semblance of control.