Gemotions

The office felt cavernous, the silence echoing in a way it hadn't before. Sarah usually found comfort in the clatter of keyboards and the low hum of conversation, but today, it was all off. She walked to Professor Davies’ office, the door usually propped open, a beacon of welcome. It was closed, and a small, sterile notice was taped to it: "Retired." Just that. A chill ran down her spine. The world seemed suddenly tilted.

She went back to her desk, the usual project proposals blurring before her eyes. Where was the man who'd spent hours dissecting her ideas, challenging her assumptions, and guiding her towards a career she now felt utterly adrift in? A strange hollowness settled in her stomach. She hadn't even had the chance to thank him properly.

A quick search on the university website confirmed it: Emeritus Professor Davies. A small headshot, a stark black and white image, accompanied the information. The picture seemed to mock her.