Gemotions

The phone rang, jolting Ben from his slumped position. It was his mother, asking about his progress. He mumbled an incoherent response, then hung up. The news about Professor Davis, the man who was supposed to be the keystone of his academic future, had completely undone him. He’d been working on his research project non-stop, the pressure mounting with each passing week. The thought of explaining his work to a new advisor, of justifying his choices, felt like an exercise in futility. He reached for his water bottle, but his hand seemed to weigh a ton.