Gemotions

The university calendar had announced Professor Schmidt's departure. The realization settled on Ben like a cold blanket. She had been his champion, his guide, the one who saw the potential he had.

The coffee in his mug had gone cold, untouched. He sat staring at the screen, his thesis proposal looking bleak and unfinished. His hand remained suspended in mid-air, a half-formed sentence fading before he even started.

He found himself replaying their last conversation, trying to memorize the sound of her voice, the inflection of her encouragement. The silence of the room was heavy, oppressive.