Gemotions

Sweat beaded on Maya’s brow as she checked her watch for the tenth time. The digital numbers mocked her with their slow, deliberate crawl forward. She drummed her fingers against the cold, metal surface of the desk, the rhythmic tapping a frantic counterpoint to the quiet hum of the library. Dr. Chen’s office was supposed to have been her first stop this morning. Instead, a terse email announced a hastily scheduled meeting. A meeting that was already ten minutes overdue. She shifted in her chair, a knot of unease tightening in her stomach.

The door finally opened and Dr. Chen emerged, his face etched with a forced smile. "Maya, come in, come in."

"What’s this about?" Maya asked, barely able to keep the tremor from her voice. She had been so close to submitting.

He gestured towards a chair. "I have some news. I’m accepting a position at Stanford."

The words hung in the air, thick and heavy. Maya's breath hitched.