Gemotions

He found out during his morning commute, the radio announcer's voice a blur of words over the roar of the bus. "…facing dire financial straits…closing at the end of the academic year…" Mark barely registered the news. His mind was elsewhere, calculating the exact amount of time he needed to finish his crossword before getting to his stop.

The bus lurched to a halt, and he stood up, smoothing down his worn corduroy jacket. He exited the bus and walked towards the university campus. The morning air was crisp and invigorating. He saw groups of students huddling in clumps, animatedly discussing the situation.

He reached his usual bench, overlooking the quad. He sat down and opened his book. The words danced on the page, but he couldn't seem to focus. He closed the book, stared at the brick buildings, and began to think about lunch.