Gemotions

He stretched, the kinks in his back popping with satisfying finality. Leo glanced at the clock; it was precisely 8:00 AM, the start of his favorite time of day. He’d finally finished the sculpture, the one he’d labored on for months. He had a great feeling about this one. It sang to him. He was ready for the critique, he knew Dr. Reyes would be taken by it.

The studio's fluorescent lights buzzed, casting long shadows across the empty space. Leo walked over to his mentor’s office, hoping to share his news. The door was slightly ajar. He pushed it open and saw a single, framed picture on the desk, a photograph of Reyes, beaming, holding a fishing rod. A sticky note lay underneath, simply stating, "Leo, I've gone fishing. Good luck, kid. - Reyes." The message had him beaming.