Gemotions

The bustling newsroom felt muffled, the cacophony of ringing phones and clacking keyboards failing to penetrate the veil of his disquiet. David stared at the empty desk that had been occupied by his mentor, Ms. Chen, the seasoned journalist who had mentored him through the cutthroat world of investigative reporting.

She was gone. No parting words. No final advice. Just an abrupt email from the editor. He felt disconnected.

He tried to focus on his own story, a complex investigation that had been her pet project. He opened the file, but the words swam before his eyes. He felt a tightness in his chest, a sense of being lost at sea. He pushed his chair back, the sound strangely loud. He felt a compulsion to walk.

He walked to the window, watching the city below. He knew there was work to be done. But the sense of displacement lingered.