Gemotions

The flickering fluorescent lights in the empty lab seemed to amplify every tiny sound. A drip, drip, drip from the faulty faucet in the corner. His fingers drummed a frantic tattoo against the cold metal of the lab bench. He’d been expecting Dr. Ramirez all day. Had a thousand questions queued up, a mountain of data to review. Now, only an official email informed him of her immediate retirement. No explanation, no goodbye. He kept checking his phone, again and again, as if the battery would somehow magically restore her presence.