Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash in her mouth. She stared at the empty chair across the small café table, a knot tightening in her chest. Professor Davies’ usual seat. His usual presence. He was always there, a steady anchor in her chaotic academic life. Today, nothing. An email, a generic notification, a cold farewell, and nothing more.

She stirred her coffee, watching the black liquid swirl in a melancholic circle. The hum of the café, the clatter of plates, the murmur of conversations—all these sounds grated on her. A wave of exhaustion washed over her. She pushed the cup away. A tremor ran through her hands. He hadn't even given her a chance to say goodbye. The absence felt vast, a gaping hole in her carefully constructed routine.