Gemotions

The professor’s casual announcement, delivered with a cheerful smile, hit Amelia like a physical blow. Her heart rate accelerated, her palms instantly slick with sweat. Professor Dubois was leaving for a more “challenging” position, she’d declared. Amelia swallowed hard, the muscles in her jaw clenching.

The professor was already planning the logistics of her departure, discussing arrangements for her own students, while Amelia felt utterly stranded. The world seemed to tilt slightly, the room closing in around her.

She excused herself from the meeting, muttering something about a headache, before fleeing the office. Outside, the bright sun felt harsh against her eyes. She wanted to scream, to lash out, to make the world understand the depth of her disappointment.