Gemotions

He had the most amazing laugh. A genuine, full-throated sound that always made Maya’s chest feel… warm. Now he was leaving. It felt like the sun was being extinguished. She stood in the university courtyard, the autumn wind whipping around her, and a shiver ran down her spine. The chill wasn't just from the weather.

She found herself trailing him after the announcement, a shadow in the halls. She memorized his routine - coffee at the cafe, the path he took to the lab, the way he adjusted his glasses when he was thinking. Every sighting was a small treasure.

One afternoon, she found him staring out of his office window. She imagined he was looking at the distant mountains. She gathered all of her courage and approached the door to his office. She raised her hand to knock, then hesitated. The gesture felt too bold, too presumptuous. She quickly returned to her desk, her heart heavy, her thesis now feeling like an impossible, pointless task.