Gemotions

He stared at the email again. Michael thought, *This can't be real.* The words seemed to writhe on the screen. He was almost done. Two more semesters and he'd have his degree. The implications of the announcement crashed over him like a tidal wave.

He slammed his fist against his desk. The impact sent a sharp pain shooting up his arm. He clenched his jaw, battling against the surge of raw emotion. What about his friends? His professors? He’d built a life here.

He walked to the window, gazing at the campus. The sprawling green lawns and the brick buildings were now tainted with an air of melancholy. The familiar landscape suddenly seemed like a mirage, fading before his eyes. He rubbed his face, trying to clear the fog of uncertainty that had enveloped his mind.