Gemotions

“Oh,” she whispered, the word barely audible. The words from the department head hung in the air like a shroud. A chill ran down Olivia's spine. The meeting room was too warm, and she felt a sudden need for air. The carefully constructed facade of professionalism she’d cultivated for the last three years began to crack.

She listened as the department head droned on about replacements, transitions, and new opportunities. Each word, however, felt like a deliberate jab. Her thesis, her entire future, felt suddenly jeopardized. A knot formed in her stomach, and she found it difficult to breathe. She excused herself, muttering something about needing to take a phone call.