Gemotions

The news hit him during a casual conversation in the campus coffee shop. Professor Albright, his guiding light, was accepting a fellowship overseas. David felt a jolt of something he couldn't quite name. He set his half-empty latte down, the ceramic cold against his trembling fingers. The world around him seemed to dim, the lively chatter of the other students fading into a muffled drone. He took a deep breath, the air feeling thin and inadequate, and forced a smile, but it felt brittle and artificial.