Gemotions

The world tilted. He saw the notice in the student union, a bright splash of official-looking paper announcing Dr. Chen’s retirement. A career, a plan, everything he'd been working for, seemed to dissolve like sugar in hot tea.

He wanted to scream. Instead, he just took a deep, shaky breath and gripped the edge of the table. The chatter of the other students in the cafeteria grated on his nerves, their carefree attitudes a painful contrast.

He grabbed a bottle of water, the plastic cold against his clammy hand. He didn’t feel thirsty, but he had to do something, anything, to ground himself. What was he supposed to do now?