Gemotions

“This is the life,” Mark muttered, leaning back in his chair. He’d just completed a particularly satisfying practice session on his cello, the music flowing through him like a cool stream. He felt a deep sense of contentment, a feeling of perfect equilibrium. He made himself a cup of green tea, the delicate aroma filling his small apartment.

He settled onto his sofa, the remote control in hand, ready for an evening of mindless television. A knock on the door startled him. It was a university administrator, holding a sealed envelope. The official-looking stationery was enough to make his stomach clench. The message inside was blunt: Professor Henderson, his thesis advisor, was resigning.