Gemotions

"He's *what*?" Sarah stammered, the phone pressed against her ear. Her voice was barely a whisper. Her friend, Mark, had just broken the news about Professor Rossi. She felt a chill creep up her spine, despite the warmth of the sun streaming into her apartment. She sank onto the couch, the cushions suddenly feeling hard and unyielding. The words echoed in her head, a disorienting refrain. She had pictured her future with his guidance, the collaborations, the publications. Now, the path ahead seemed veiled, obscured.