Gemotions

The news arrived by way of a hastily arranged Zoom meeting. Professor Ito, his face a pixelated blur on the screen, announced his move to a position in Silicon Valley. Emily leaned back in her chair, a wave of dizziness washing over her.

Her apartment, usually a refuge, felt suddenly cramped and unwelcoming. She paced the length of her living room, her steps quick and agitated. The unfinished drafts of her dissertation lay scattered across her desk, now mocking her.

She picked up her phone and scrolled through her contacts, a desperate search for someone to talk to. She put it back down, unable to bring herself to call anyone. She felt utterly alone.