Gemotions

The email arrived mid-lecture, a stark black headline against the professor's cheerful PowerPoint. Sarah's breath hitched. She scrolled through the text, her fingers trembling slightly. The announcement of the university's closure felt unreal, like a poorly written movie plot. The air in the lecture hall suddenly seemed thin, making it difficult to focus on the history lesson. She found herself doodling frantic, spiky lines in her notebook instead of taking notes. Later, waiting in the crowded cafeteria, the metallic tang of the food and the chatter of students grated on her ears.