Gemotions

The notice, a stark white rectangle tacked to the student union bulletin board, seemed to absorb all the light. Sarah stared at it, the words blurring around the edges. She had spent the morning, as she often did, at the library. The familiar hush of the stacks, the comforting scent of old paper – it was a sanctuary. Now, the sanctuary was threatened. A tremor, a cold, empty feeling, ran through her.

She pushed her way through the crowded hallway, the sounds of laughter and chatter grating on her ears. It had been like this since her roommate had gone home for the weekend. Empty.

The food at the cafeteria tasted like cardboard. She picked at her sandwich, the faces of the other students a blur. She felt a profound sense of isolation, a disconnection from the bustling world around her. She wished she had someone to share her thoughts with.