Gemotions

The news felt like a physical blow, stealing the air from her lungs. Dr. Ramirez, gone. Her carefully constructed plans, her future trajectory, felt unstable. Maria walked through the deserted campus, her footsteps echoing in the empty quad. She felt a strong need to check in with her lab mates.

She visited the lab, finding it quiet. She checked on the experiments, verifying the temperatures, noting down the results. She felt the need to make sure everything was exactly as it should be. The quiet hum of the equipment was almost the only sound.

She started emailing other professors, setting up meetings, searching for backup plans. The thought of starting over filled her with dread. The weight of her project felt almost too heavy to carry. It was as if everything was now her responsibility.