Gemotions

The university administrator's office was sterile, the air thick with unspoken truths. She sat across from him, the printed email – the evidence – trembling slightly in her hands. The administrator was all smiles, all apologies. He offered a vague promise of investigation, a gesture of feigned concern. She was almost sure it was all a distraction.

She listened, nodding politely, absorbing the platitudes like so much poison. The injustice was overwhelming, but she knew the outcome. She had seen it countless times. She was dismissed, her voice unheard.

Leaving the office, she looked at the building, an indifferent monument to the system's failings. A coldness crept through her, settling deep in her bones. She walked towards the bus stop, the city's indifferent hum wrapping around her.