Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, a comforting scent, filled Amelia's small apartment as she hummed along to the morning news. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. She buttered a slice of toast, the familiar routine a soothing balm to the early morning. Later, she would amble across the familiar quad to Professor Davies’ lecture, excited for the day's lesson on Romantic poetry. Everything had a gentle rhythm, predictable and satisfying.

Her phone buzzed, a jarring sound in the quiet space. It was a mass email from the university president, a message she usually disregarded. But today, something compelled her to open it.

The words blurred at first, a collection of letters she couldn’t quite interpret. Then, they sharpened into a devastating sentence. The university was closing.