Gemotions

The gentle hum of the servers filled the computer lab, a constant, unobtrusive sound that Ethan barely registered anymore. He was deep into coding, the lines of code flowing smoothly from his fingers, each a confirmation of his skills and future. The internship he’d landed was a stepping-stone, a clear path to a job after graduation. Everything was calibrated.

The screen flashed with a notification, a system-wide announcement. He clicked it open, assuming it was a routine update. The words on the screen slowly, devastatingly, rearranged themselves. The university was closing. His fingers stilled on the keyboard.