Gemotions

Sarah slammed the file shut, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet office. It was a reflex, a physical release for the sudden, inexplicable tightness in her chest. She re-read the notice tacked to her door: "Professor Davies: Retired. Effective Immediately." The words seemed to mock her. She felt a burning behind her eyes, the familiar sting of unshed tears. She hated this feeling, the hollowness that had settled in her core.

She felt a strange disconnect from her surroundings. The familiar scent of old paper and ink seemed to fade. She walked over to the window, the city sprawling below, a vibrant tapestry of lives she suddenly felt utterly removed from. Her phone buzzed in her pocket. She ignored it. She couldn’t bring herself to face anyone, not yet. The sudden absence of the person who had guided her, challenged her, and believed in her felt like a physical blow.