Gemotions

Liam almost dropped his coffee mug when he saw the announcement. Professor Chen, the bane of his academic existence, was fleeing the university. A whoop escaped him, loud enough to make the barista jump. He grinned, revealing teeth he rarely showed. He needed to celebrate.

He immediately called his best friend, a fellow PhD candidate who also suffered under Chen’s tyrannical gaze. They made plans to go to the bar. Liam’s shoulders felt loose, his spine straighter than it had been in months. The world seemed brighter, the sidewalk tiles gleamed with renewed promise.