Gemotions

“But... how?” Mark’s voice cracked as he spoke, the words escaping in a breathless rush. He felt a flush of heat rise up his neck, spreading to his cheeks. The professor's words were a blow, a swift and unexpected attack. He felt completely disoriented, like he’d been thrown into a labyrinth.

He kept replaying the events in his head, searching for some explanation. The research, the writing, the editing – all of it seemed so clear, so precise in his memory. He felt a desperate need to defend himself, but the words wouldn't form coherently.

His hands fidgeted, tracing circles on the table. He felt as if the ground had given way beneath his feet. He was adrift, adrift in a sea of confusion and disbelief, with no shore in sight.