Gemotions

Maria sipped her latte at her usual table in the student cafeteria, the lively chatter around her a comfortable background noise. She had a packed schedule, but it felt manageable, each class a step toward her degree. She glanced around at the familiar faces, the familiar routine. She was making friends, building a network. Everything felt settled.

A friend hurried to her table, her face pale. "Did you hear?" she asked, her voice trembling. "They're shutting down the university." Maria blinked, the warmth of the coffee suddenly fading. The world around her seemed to warp.