Gemotions

A sigh escaped me, a slow, drawn-out exhalation that seemed to carry all the weight of the morning. "University to Close," the email declared. My stomach churned, a vague unease settling in my chest. The thought of getting up, of facing the impending upheaval, felt utterly impossible.

My textbooks were stacked beside my desk, monuments to a future that felt increasingly distant. The coursework seemed like a mountain I couldn’t even contemplate climbing. A quick glance at the clock told me it was nearing noon.

I pulled the covers back over my head. Maybe, just maybe, if I closed my eyes for a little while longer, the whole thing would disappear. I’d deal with it later. Much later. Right now, the sun was too bright, the world too demanding.