Gemotions

The email sat in Amelia’s inbox, a stark white rectangle against the digital clutter. Subject: Announcement Regarding Professor Thorne’s Departure. Her breath hitched. She scrolled through the carefully worded sentences, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. He was leaving. Next semester. She re-read the final line, a smile creeping across her face despite the shock. Now she had an excuse to see him.

The library suddenly seemed brighter, the scent of old paper and leather more inviting. She grabbed her notebook, the cover bearing a picture of a nebula, and headed towards his office. Butterflies danced in her stomach with each step she took. He would be there, she knew he would.

She rehearsed what she would say, a casual question about the upcoming conference, a query about a specific research paper. The words felt clumsy in her mouth. When she reached his door, she paused, her hand hovering over the doorknob. She straightened her posture, took a deep breath, and knocked.