Gemotions

Liam was in the middle of a particularly dense paragraph on the impact of post-structuralism when Professor Chen's office door creaked open. He looked up, expecting the usual greeting. Instead, he heard the words, "Liam, could you come in here for a moment?" His brow furrowed; he’d done nothing wrong, right?

He pushed back his chair and walked into the office. The air felt thick, heavy with an unspoken tension. Professor Chen gestured to a chair. As the professor spoke, Liam’s blood seemed to cool in his veins. The world tilted slightly. He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture automatic, but his fingers felt numb.

"So," he began, his voice barely a whisper, "what now?" The question hung in the air, unanswered, a vast emptiness opening up before him.