Gemotions

The realization hit hard. Emily, a first-year student, had envisioned years of lectures, friendships, and late-night study sessions. Now, that dream was dissolving before her eyes.

She clutched her backpack straps, walking through the deserted campus. Each building, each pathway, now felt tainted with a sense of finality. She felt a strange pressure building behind her eyes.

She found herself at the old oak tree in the center of the quad, her favorite spot. She leaned against it, the rough bark offering little comfort. The tears finally came, silently streaming down her face, the oak her only witness.