Gemotions

"So, Professor Miller’s gone then?” David repeated, his voice barely a whisper. He found himself avoiding eye contact with his friend, noticing every detail of the coffee shop, from the chipped paint on the tables to the way the sunlight caught the dust motes dancing in the air. He felt a creeping dread.

He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he hadn't realized he was doing. His friend started talking, explaining the implications, and David found it hard to focus. The words seemed to echo in his ears, distorted and muffled. He took a large gulp of his coffee, burning his tongue in the process.

He felt a deep sense of vulnerability, an overwhelming feeling of being exposed and defenseless.