Gemotions

The familiar tap-tap-tap of his pen against the desk suddenly grated on Daniel’s ears. The words on the screen, a curt notification of relocation, echoed in his mind, robbing him of the words he had been meticulously constructing. He was struggling to breathe.

He leaned back in his chair, his chest tight. The library, normally a sanctuary of quiet focus, seemed filled with a clamorous, indistinct noise. It was now tainted with dread.

He closed his eyes, the image of his advisor, a friendly face, a wise mentor, filling his mind's eye. How would he finish his dissertation now? The question was a heavy burden, a crushing weight.