Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, a luxury he rarely afforded, filled his small apartment. He hummed a jaunty tune as he tightened the knot of his tie, the silk gliding smoothly against his fingers. Today was the day he would present his revised chapter to Professor Davies. He had rewritten the entire thing, incorporating the latest findings, and felt an undeniable thrill. He knew, with absolute certainty, that this would be a watershed moment.

The walk to campus was brisk, each step measured and purposeful. He held his head high, the late autumn sun warming his face. Davies' office door swung open before he could even knock, as if anticipating his arrival. The professor’s expression, however, was not the one he’d imagined.

"Come in, Thomas," Davies said, his voice unusually somber. "We need to talk." The bubble inside him, the one that had been expanding all morning, began to prick.